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Multiple sclerosis associated fatigue during natalizumab treatment
Norman Putzki1, Ozgür Yaldizli, Barbara Tettenborn
1Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. norman.putzki@uni-due.de
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|June 30, 2009
Summary
Natalizumab treatment improved fatigue and well-being in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients within six months. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings for MS fatigue management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in MS patients.
- Natalizumab is a therapeutic option for MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of natalizumab on fatigue in MS patients.
- To assess changes in subjective well-being during natalizumab treatment.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study.
- 42 MS patients were assessed before and after 6 months of natalizumab.
- Fatigue measured using Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in MFIS scores (p<0.01) and improvement in well-being (p<0.01) after 6 months.
- Natalizumab treatment led to a decrease in relapse rates and reduced MRI-detected inflammatory lesions.
- No correlation found between inflammatory lesions and fatigue scores.
Conclusions:
- Natalizumab treatment appears to improve fatigue and well-being in MS patients.
- Further randomized controlled trials are required to establish definitive conclusions on natalizumab's effect on MS fatigue.
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