Rebound of disease activity after withdrawal of fingolimod (FTY720) treatment

The oral sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator fingolimod (FTY720) was recently approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. To date, data about a possible recurrence of disease activity after discontinuation of fingolimod treatment are scarce.

To describe a patient who discontinued fingolimod treatment after a local malignant melanoma was diagnosed. Three months after cessation, he had a striking rebound of multiple sclerosis activity.

Case report and review of literature.

Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

A 45-year-old man diagnosed as having relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis disease activity including annual relapse rate, Expanded Disability Status Scale score, and number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging before, during, and after treatment with fingolimod.

Three months after discontinuation of treatment with fingolimod, the patient experienced a severe relapse, with Expanded Disability Status Scale score progression from 2.5 to 4.5. On brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging, he showed a rebound of disease activity, with a drastic increase of gadolinium-enhancing lesions (>20).

Two aspects relevant to any newly approved multiple sclerosis treatment with immunomodulatory properties are highlighted with this case: first, possible rebound of disease activity after discontinuation; second, the occurrence of a tumor as a possible treatment-related complication.