title: Life-threatening asthma attack during prolonged fingolimod treatment: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fingolimod (FTY) mediates bronchoconstriction by interacting with sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. The majority of the reported adverse respiratory events occur during the first weeks of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 49-year-old woman developed a life-threatening asthma attack after 6 months of continuous FTY treatment. The adverse event required prolonged hospitalization, and the patient recovered without sequelae after FTY interruption. A history of previous airway hyperreactivity and a concurrent viral respiratory infection possibly acted as predisposing factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first description of a severe, life-threatening asthma attack during prolonged FTY treatment suggests the need for long-term clinical surveillance, especially in patients with known predisposing factors.
authors: Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Department of Neurology, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Zecca
authors: Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Department of Neurology, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Caporro
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors: Sandor
authors: S
authors: Györik
authors: Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Department of Neurology, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Gobbi
keywords: bronchial hyper-reactivity; multiple sclerosis