Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity and Disability Following Cessation of Fingolimod for Pregnancy

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology..

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Discontinuation of fingolimod ≥2 months before pregnancy is recommended to minimize potential teratogenicity. The magnitude of MS pregnancy relapse risk, particularly severe relapses, after fingolimod cessation is unclear, as is whether this risk is reduced by pregnancy or modifiable factors.

METHODS: Pregnancies who stopped fingolimod treatment within 1 year before or during pregnancy were identified from the German MS and Pregnancy Registry. Data were collected through structured telephone-administered questionnaires and neurologists' notes. Severe relapses were defined as a ≥2.0 increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) or new or worsening relapse-related ambulatory impairment. Women who continued to meet this definition 1 year postpartum were classified as reaching the Severe Relapse Disability Composite Score (SRDCS). Multivariable models accounting for measures of disease severity and repeated events were used.

RESULTS: Of the 213 pregnancies among 201 women (mean age at pregnancy onset 32 years) identified, 56.81% (n = 121) discontinued fingolimod after conception. Relapses during pregnancy (31.46%) and the postpartum year (44.60%) were common. Nine pregnancies had a severe relapse during pregnancy and additional 3 during the postpartum year. One year postpartum, 11 of these (6.32% of n = 174 with complete EDSS information) reached the SRDCS. Adjusted relapse rates during pregnancy were slightly higher compared with the year before pregnancy (relapse rate ratio = 1.24, 95% CI 0.91-1.68). Neither exclusive breastfeeding nor resuming fingolimod within 4 weeks of delivery were associated with a reduced risk of postpartum relapses. Most pregnancies relapsed during the first 3 months postpartum (n = 55/204, 26.96%).

DISCUSSION: Relapses during pregnancy after fingolimod cessation are common. Approximately 6% of women will retain clinically meaningful disability from these pregnancy-related, fingolimod cessation relapses 1 year postpartum. This information should be shared with women on fingolimod desiring pregnancy, and optimizing MS treatment with nonteratogenic approaches should be discussed.

Medienart:	E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:	2023
Erschienen:	2023

Enthalten in:	Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:10
Enthalten in:	Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation - 10(2023), 4 vom: 22. Juli

Sprache:	Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:	Hellwig, Kerstin [VerfasserIn] Tokic, Marianne [VerfasserIn] Thiel, Sandra [VerfasserIn] Hemat, Spalmai [VerfasserIn] Timmesfeld, Nina [VerfasserIn] Ciplea, Andrea I [VerfasserIn] Gold, Ralf [VerfasserIn] Langer-Gould, Annette M [VerfasserIn]

Links:	Volltext

Themen:	Fingolimod Hydrochloride G926EC510T Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anmerkungen:	Date Completed 24.05.2023 Date Revised 25.05.2023 published: Electronic-Print Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:	10.1212/NXI.0000000000200110

funding:
Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):	NLM357197704