Tp-Te interval predicts heart rate reduction after fingolimod administration in patients with multiple sclerosis

FTY720 (Fingolimod) is an immunosuppressive drug, which provides favourable effects in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), albeit it induces heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) reductions. Therefore, we tested potential factors able to predict HR response in MS patients treated with fingolimod.

We analysed patients with MS followed at our Neurology Outpatient Clinic from May 2013 to June 2015. All patients underwent BP measurements and 12-lead ECG before and 6-h after drug administration. At these time intervals, conventional and new ECG indexes for cardiac damage, including Tp-Te interval, were measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to test the outcome of HR reduction more than median difference between baseline and final observations.

69 outpatients with MS (46 males, age 35.1±9.4years, BP 119.0±12.7/73.0±9.3mmHg, HR 73.5±11.4bpm) were included. No relevant adverse reactions were reported. Fingolimod induced progressive systolic (P=0.024) and diastolic (P<0.001) BP, as well as HR (P<0.001) reductions compared to baseline. Prolonged PQ (150.4±19.5 vs. 157.0±19.5ms; P<0.001), QT (374.9±27.0 vs. 400.0±25.8ms; P<0.001), Tp-Te (1.8±0.3 vs. 1.9±0.3mm; P=0.021), and reduced QTc (414.4±24.4 vs. 404.5±24.5ms; P<0.001) intervals were also recorded at final observation. Baseline HR, QT and Tp-Te intervals provided prognostic information at univariate analysis, although Tp-Te interval resulted the best independent predictor for HR reduction at multivariate analysis [0.057 (0.005-0.660); P=0.022].

This study firstly demonstrates that prolonged Tp-Te interval may identify those MS patients treated with fingolimod at higher risk of having significant, asymptomatic HR reduction during clinical observation.