Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Fingolimod in Patients With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective Analysis in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Objectives The aim of this prospective observational postmarketing study was to evaluate fingolimod effectiveness in a real-world setting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients who had been prescribed fingolimod owing to treatment failure and had at least greater than or equal to 24 months of follow-up were included during August 2013 and June 2018. Three-monthly clinical evaluations and 12-monthly magnetic resonance were performed. Demographic and clinical variables were described as well as the safety and the effectiveness outcomes that included the proportion of patients free from clinical relapses, from disability progression, from new or enlarging T2 or T1 gadolinium-enhancing lesions on annual magnetic resonance imaging, and from any disease activity during the follow-up. Results A total of 97 patients were included (68% female [n = 66]; mean +/- SD age, 30 +/- 10.5 years; mean +/- SD disease duration, 6.5 +/- 3.1 years; mean +/- SD Expanded Disability Status Scale, 3.5 +/- 1; mean +/- SD fingolimod use, 30 +/- 13 months [range, 18-56 months]). One hundred percent (97) used previous disease-modifying therapy, mainly interferons (87%; n = 84). Fourteen patients (14.4%) discontinued/withdrew fingolimod (10 owing to disease activity and 4 owing to tolerance and personal decisions). Eighty-two percent were free from clinical relapses, and 85% were free from disability progression; 75% of patients remained free from new or newly enlarging T2 lesions, and 78% of patients were free from gadolinium enhancing lesions. The proportion of patients free from any disease activity was 54%. Conclusions The effectiveness of fingolimod in a newly real-world setting was consistent with information provided from phase III clinical trials.