• X Montalban, G Comi, P O'Connor, Sm Gold, A de Vera, B Eckert, and L Kappos.
• Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clinica, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. xavier.montalban@unic-em.com
• Mult. Scler. 2011 Nov 1; 17 (11): 1341-50.

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) worsens with multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses and disease progression. Common symptoms including depression and fatigue may contribute to poor HRQoL.ObjectivesTo report exploratory analyses assessing the impact of fingolimod (FTY720) on HRQoL and depression in a phase II study of relapsing MS.MethodsThe Hamburg Quality of Life Questionnaire in MS (HAQUAMS) and Beck Depression Inventory second edition (BDI-II) scores were assessed during a 6-month, placebo-controlled study and optional extension.ResultsHAQUAMS total score improved with fingolimod and worsened with placebo. Mean score change from baseline to month 6 was -0.02 with fingolimod 1.25 mg (p < 0.05 versus placebo), -0.01 with fingolimod 5.0 mg and + 0.12 with placebo. Categorical data supported a clinically important effect of fingolimod on HRQoL. Fingolimod 1.25 mg was also beneficial over placebo in the fatigue/thinking HAQUAMS sub-domain (p < 0.05 versus placebo). Change in mean BDI-II scores from baseline to month 6 and the proportion of patients with BDI-II scores indicative of clinical depression favored fingolimod 1.25 mg over placebo (p < 0.05 for both). At month 4, mean BDI-II and HAQUAMS total scores appeared to be maintained in fingolimod-treated patients.ConclusionFingolimod 1.25 mg may improve HRQoL and depression at 6 months compared with placebo in patients with relapsing MS.

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