title: Emerging tumefactive multiple sclerosis after switching therapy from natalizumab to fingolimod.
abstract: In this report we describe a multiple sclerosis patient who developed a relapse with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of tumefactive demyelination after switching therapy from natalizumab to fingolimod. Tumefactive lesions emerged 16 weeks after stopping natalizumab and eight weeks after commencing fingolimod therapy but had been absent at the time of diagnosis and throughout the preceding course of the disease. Thus, the first-time occurrence of atypical lesion features may have been caused by the change in immunotherapy. The possible relevance of natalizumab withdrawal vs fingolimod introduction is discussed against the background of recently published case studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany. jander@uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jander
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turowski
authors.forename: Bernd C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kieseier
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D057915:Drug Substitution; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069442:Natalizumab; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012008:Recurrence; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069442:Natalizumab; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine