Abstract

Fingolimod is the much anticipated oral disease modifying treatment for patients with highly active Multiple sclerosis. A total of 42 patients were commenced on Fingolimod from December 2012 to June 2014 in Leeds Hospitals NHS Trust.

Four patients discontinued treatment due to patient choice, consecutive severe relapses and hepatotoxicity. No other severe side effects were noted in these 42 patients. A total of ten relapses were seen in nine patients. Of which eight out of ten relapses occurred within the first two months. Of the nine patients who experienced relapses, five (55%) were previously treated with Natalizumab, as opposed to four on injectable Disease Modifying Treatments (45%).

The five patients previously treated with Natalizumab all underwent a three month wash out period prior to commencing Fingolimod. The relapses all took place within the first two months following initiation of Fingolimod.

Early relapses in a patient group with highly active disease would suggest that a period of three months without disease modifying treatment could be too long. Currently this period has been shortened to four weeks and it remains to be seen if this will result in fewer early relapses in patients commencing Fingolimod.