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Published on: December 9, 2015
Successful treatment with dimethyl fumarate in a child with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Naoya Saijo1, Yu Abe1, Yoshitsugu Oikawa1
1Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Insights
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) may be effective for treating pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS). This case study shows a young boy with MS experienced no relapses after his DMF dosage was adjusted.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Early treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) with disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) is crucial for long-term prognosis.
- Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral DMD approved for adult MS, but its use in young children is less documented.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old boy presented with symptoms suggestive of MS, including unsteadiness and somnolence.
- Despite initial treatment, the patient experienced recurrent relapses, including oculomotor disability and facial paralysis.
- Treatment with DMF was initiated at age 6 and the dosage increased at age 7.
Findings:
- Following the dosage adjustment of DMF, the pediatric patient remained relapse-free for over three years.
- No significant side effects or long-term sequelae were observed during the treatment period.
Implications:
- Dimethyl fumarate may represent a viable oral treatment option for managing pediatric relapsing-remitting MS.
- Further research into DMF's efficacy and safety in younger MS populations is warranted.
Introduction:
Early disease control with disease-modifying drugs is important for improving the prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in children. Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral disease-modifying drug for MS in adults with relatively stable disease; however, its use in young children has not been heavily documented in the current literature. We report the case of a pediatric patient with relapsing-remitting MS who was treated with DMF.
Case Report:
A 3-year-old boy with a history of common cold symptoms developed unsteadiness and somnolence. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple white matter lesions. Symptoms were recurrent, and DMF was prescribed at 6 years of age due to a relapse episode with oculomotor disability and facial paralysis. However, disease progression continued, and new lesions were noted at age 7; thus, the dose of DMF was increased to 240 mg/day. No relapse has been observed for over three years; sequelae or severe side effects were absent.
Conclusions:
DMF may be a useful oral disease-modifying drug for preventing recurrence in young children with MS.
