158. The Impact of Natalizumab on Neuropsychological Function in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Fatigue, anxiety and depression are relevant symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). several studies have confirmed the positive effect of treatment with natalizumab on physical disabilities in patients with MS. However, the effect of natalizumab on neuropsychological symptoms is still controverted. this is a cross-sectional study conducted at the national institute of Neurology Mongi Ben Hmida between January and June 2023 including patients with MS. We selected patients who are naïve from any disease modifying therapy (PN) and those treated with Natalizumab (PNat) in order to compare the severity of fatigue, anxiety and depression between both groups. A self-reported questionnaire was delivered to patients during their routine check-up in consultation. Fatigue was assessed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), anxiety was evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and depression through the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). We included 34 MS PNat with a mean age 37.4±9.7 and a sex ratio M/F=12/22. The mean Expanded Disease Status Scale (EDSS) was 3.3±2.7 for a disease duration of 12.2±6.4. According to the BDI-II scale, 58.8% had depression with a mean score of 17±7.5. Among our PNat, 50% were suffering from anxiety with a mean HAM-A score of 20.1±13.3 and 100% were complaining from fatigue with a mean MFIS score of 46.2±11. Compared to PN (20 patients), no significant difference of depression, anxiety and fatigue scores were found in PNat (0.139, 0.616 and 0.883 respectively). Natalizumab seems to have no significant impact on neuropsychological symptoms in MS patients. Yet, prospective studies for a long period are needed to prove it.