Effect of natalizumab on clinical/radiological disease activity and EDSS of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks T-cell transmigration through the blood-brain barrier into CNS.

OBJECTIVE: AFFIRM showed monotherapy with Natalizumab for 2 year reduced the annualized relapse rate ARR by 68% and the disability progression rate by 42%. This is our first experince in use of Natalizumab in Benghazi-Libya. So we want to evalute its efficacy.

METHODS: Four patients of relapsing remitting multiple scerosis on Natalizumab (JC virus negative and MRI prior to use drug done) followed in our clinical practice regarding frequency of relapse, EDSS and new T2-hyperintense lesion on MRI for 24 months for 3 patients and 1 ptient for 12 months.

RESULTS: All the patients have no relapse (frequency of relapse zero) during 24 months in 3 patients and 12 months in 1 patient, no new T2 hyperintense MRI lesion in 3 patients. there are decrease in EDSS in 3 patients. Table and graphs will show more details later on.

CONCLUSION: The efficency of Natalizumab on disease activity i.e. relapse free is higher in my study which 100% in comparsion with AFFIRM which was 68% (our study is small size) so our recommondation to have bigger size for right comparsion and more evalution of efficacy. No reaction to the drug (side effect) recorded during this follow up.