Alemtuzumab induced hemodynamic change in relapsing multiple sclerosis occurs independent of corticosteroid premedication - a retrospective multicentre study.

Background Alemtuzumab (ATZ), a highly effective disease modifying treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), is associated with the rare risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Increase of blood pressure (BP) was hypothesized to be causative, but prior administration of high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) is a potential confounder. Objective To analyze BP change in MS patients treated with ATZ and prior HDMP treatment compared to patients receiving HDMP only for acute relapse. Methods In this retrospective study, 30 patients treated with ATZ/HDMP and 60 age-, sex- and disability-matched controls treated with HDMP were included. Primary endpoint was the change of systolic BP (SBP) between before ATZ cycle and the maximum value measured during the treatment cycle; secondary endpoints were change in diastolic BP (DBP) and heart rate (HR). Results Change of SBP observed in ATZ/HDMP treated patients was significantly higher than in HDMP controls (mean maximal change of 12.8 vs. 8.1 mmHg, p = 0.033). An increase of SBP exceeding 20% from baseline was observed in 5 (16.7%) patients on ATZ/HDMP compared to 3 (5.0%) on HDMP (p = 0.078). The day after the 1st ATZ infusion, mean HR was higher in the ATZ/HDMP group compared to HDMP controls (82.5 vs. 73.2 bpm, p = 0.005), although there was no significant group difference over time. Conclusions ATZ treatment induced a slight, but significant increase in SBP independent of HDMP. Although hemodynamic alterations alone seem unlikely as putative mechanism for cerebral bleedings, strict cardiovascular monitoring is recommended to reduce rare, but severe cardiovascular side effects.

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