Another article on MS worsening after stopping Tysabri.
From NTK Institute as it appeared in PubMed, December 10, 2014:
Mult Scler. 2014 Nov 12.
Significant clinical worsening after natalizumab withdrawal: Predictive factors
Vidal-Jordana A1, Tintoré M1, Tur C1, Pérez-Miralles F1, Auger C1, Río J1, Nos C1, Arrambide G1, Comabella M1, Galán I1, Castilló J1, Sastre-Garriga J1, Rovira A1, Montalban X2.
Author information
1Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
2Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain xmontalban@cem-cat.org.
We aimed to single out multiple sclerosis (MS) cases with poor outcome after natalizumab withdrawal and to identify predictive variables. We ascertained 47 withdrawals, and compared their pre- and post-natalizumab periods. We objectively defined significant clinical worsening after natalizumab withdrawal as a 2-step increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). We performed regression models.
As a group, post-natalizumab annualized relapse rate (ARR) was lower in the post-natalizumab period, and there were no differences in the mean number of gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing lesions between pre- and post-natalizumab magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Corticosteroid treatment did not change the outcomes.
Eight patients (19%) presented significant clinical worsening after natalizumab withdrawal, which was predicted by a higher baseline EDSS and a 1-step EDSS increase while on natalizumab.