Real-World Use of Fingolimod in Patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Study Using the National Multiple Sclerosis Registry in Kuwait

Background Fingolimod is an oral sphingosine-1-phosphate–receptor modulator, which has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials and has recently been approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment in Kuwait. Post-marketing studies are important to demonstrate real-life efficacy and safety. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of fingolimod treatment in a clinical setting. Methods Using the national Kuwait MS registry, relapsing remitting MS patients who had been prescribed fingolimod for ≥6 months were retrospectively identified. Three-monthly clinical evaluations and 6-monthly magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) were performed. Patient status pre- and post-treatment was compared using chi-square and Student t -tests. Results A total of 175 patients were included: 75.4 % female ( n = 132); mean age 33.3 ± 9.2 years; mean disease duration 7.2 ± 5.2 years; mean fingolimod use 21.7 ± 9.1 months. Most had used previous disease-modifying therapy (78.9 %; n = 138), mainly interferons (66.9 %; n = 117). Twenty-three patients (11.4 %) discontinued/withdrew fingolimod; of whom eight had relapses. The proportion of relapse-free patients improved significantly (86.3 % vs. 32.6 %; p