Table 2.
Natalizumab treatment characteristics.
| Natalizumab treatment characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration (N = 304), median (IQR), months | 58.7 (30.7–78.0) |
| Temporary interruptions | |
| Patients with interruptions (N = 304), n (%) | 45 (14.8) |
| Number of interruptions (N = 45), median (IQR) | 1.0 (1.0–3.0) |
| Length of interruptions (N = 45), median (IQR), months | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) |
| Treatment permanent discontinuation | |
| Patients with treatment discontinuation (N = 304), n (%) | 154 (50.7) |
| Reasons for treatment discontinuation (N = 154)a, n (%) | |
| Anti-JCV antibody positive | 91 (59.1) |
| Patient’s decision | 62 (40.3) |
| Physician’s decision | 49 (31.8) |
| Natalizumab treatment duration concern | 17 (11.0) |
| Pregnancy desire | 11 (7.1) |
| Insufficient efficacy | 8 (5.2) |
| Adverse event | 5 (3.2) |
| Medication change from natalizumab | 5 (3.2) |
| Tolerability problem other than adverse events | 4 (2.6) |
| Prior immunosuppressive use | 3 (1.9) |
| Tysabri antibody positive | 3 (1.9) |
| PML | 2 (1.3) |
| Moved out of the area | 2 (1.3) |
| Malignancy/cancer | 1 (0.6) |
| Death | 1 (0.6) |
| Consent withdrawal | 1 (0.6) |
| Patients receiving concomitant therapy for MS management (N = 304), n (%) | 59 (19.4) |
| Methylprednisolone | 33 (10.9) |
| Prednisone | 21 (6.9) |
| Systemic corticosteroid (not specified) | 5 (1.6) |
| Prednisolone | 1 (0.3) |
Note: IQR, interquartile range; JCV, John Cunningham virus; MS, multiple sclerosis; PML, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
aMultiple reasons could apply.