title: Multimodal evoked potentials follow up in multiple sclerosis patients under fingolimod therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical trials have shown the therapeutic effect of fingolimod in reducing disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS), but its influence on nervous conduction assessed by evoked potentials (EPs) has not been previously investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  EP data of 20 patients examined 12months prior to initiation of fingolimod (t=-1), at treatment initiation (t=0) and 1year later (t=+1) were compared. Each EP (VEP, MEP, SEP) and EP sum score, a global evoked potential score as the sum score of the each EP score was evaluated and correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During pre-treatment period (1year) EDSS worsened while one year after fingolimod treatment EDSS remained stable. From t-1 to t0 VEP, SEP, MEP and EP sum score worsened while from t0 to t+1 VEP, SEP and EP sum score improved, and MEP score remain stable. VEP and SEP were related to EDSS at baseline (t=-1), while MEP and total EP sum score were related to EDSS at all time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fingolimod is able to improve visual and somatosensory evoked potential in RR-MS patients even if clinical disability scale remains stable. VEP and SEP could give eloquent information on pathway underweighted in EDSS. EPs are useful to evaluate fingolimod effects in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy. Electronic address: rosaiodice81@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iodice
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy; Danish Research Center for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR), Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubbioso
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cerillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University Federico II of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manganelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride
keywords: EDSS; Evoked potential; Fingolimod; MEP; Multiple sclerosis; SEP; VEP