Natalizumab is effective as second line therapy in the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Eur J Neurol. 2009 Mar;16(3):424-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02519.x.

Abstract

Background: Natalizumab has been recommended for the treatment of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis with insufficient response to interferon-beta (IFN-beta) or glatiramer acetate (GA).

Method: Prospective, observational study.

Results: We found a reduction of the annualized relapse rate from 2.1 under IFN-beta or GA to 0.2 one year after switching to natalizumab. There were 94% fewer gadolinium enhancing lesions with natalizumab.

Conclusion: Natalizumab reduced short term clinical and MRI activity in second line therapy and efficacy is comparable to first line therapy as demonstrated in the pivotal trials.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Brain / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Gadolinium
  • Glatiramer Acetate
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / pathology
  • Natalizumab
  • Neuroprotective Agents / adverse effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Pilot Projects
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Natalizumab
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Peptides
  • Glatiramer Acetate
  • Interferon-beta
  • Gadolinium