• Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, Jesper Hagemeier, Katelyn S Kavak, Vasu Saini, Kara Patrick, Deepa P Ramasamy, Muhammad Nadeem, Ellen Carl, David Hojnacki, and Robert Zivadinov.
• Jacobs Comprehensive MS Treatment and Research Center, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
• J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. 2016 Sep 1; 87 (9): 937-43.

ObjectivesTo compare two modes of natalizumab cessation interventions: immediate versus tapered down, as measured by serial MRI and the occurrence of relapses during a 12-month period.BackgroundWeighing progressive multifocal encephalopathy risk associated with ≥24 months of natalizumab therapy against the benefits of disease control, we initiated a natalizumab discontinuation study.MethodsA phase IV, 12-month, single-blinded randomised (MRI) study. Fifty relapsing patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who had been on natalizumab therapy ≥24 months and were contemplating natalizumab discontinuation were enrolled. Participants were randomised to either the immediate discontinuation group (IDG) or the tapered group (TG). IDG discontinued natalizumab at once and initiated another disease modifying therapy (DMT) following the last natalizumab infusion, while the TG received two more natalizumab infusions, at 6 and 8 weeks (14 weeks from study entry) before initiating another DMT. Standardised MRI was performed at baseline, 6 and 12 months from the last natalizumab infusion.ResultsA higher rate of relapses in the IDG (n=28) compared to the TG (n=8) over 12 months from the last infusion (p=0.007) was observed, most relapses occurred within 3 months of discontinuation (20 vs 7 relapses, p=0.012). The IDG showed a higher number of new T2 lesions within 6-12 months of discontinuation (p=0.025), a higher mean absolute T2-LV change from 0 to 12 months (1.1 vs 0.1 mL, p=0.024) and a higher number of new T1-hypointense lesions over 0-12 months (p=0.005) as well as from baseline to 6 months (p=0.026) compared to the TG.ConclusionsNatalizumab discontinuation therapy was associated with development of new disease activity. Our tapered protocol showed benefits, as patients in the TG experienced less relapses and lower accumulation of MRI lesions compared to those in the IDG.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

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