Zhao Zhao1, Chun-Lai Ma1, Zhi-Chun Gu2, Yue Dong1, Yang Lv1,3, Ming-Kang Zhong1. 1. Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Pharmacy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. 3. Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
Abstract
Background and Aims: There is a controversy regarding whether fingolimod is associated with an increased risk of infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the risk of infection in these patients. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov from inception to April 8, 2020, to identify RCTs that reported the occurrence of infection in patients with MS treated with fingolimod. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. Results: Twelve RCTs including 8,448 patients were eligible. Compared with the control (placebo and other active treatments), fingolimod significantly increased the risk of infection (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27; I 2, 81%), regardless of whether the infection was a general infection (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25; I 2, 78%), or a serious infection (RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.06-2.10; I 2, 0%). Analyses of subgroups found that fingolimod significantly increased the risk of lower respiratory infection (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.19-1.85; I 2, 0%) and herpes virus infection (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01-1.78; I 2, 9%). There appears to be no dose-dependent increase in the risk of infection associated with fingolimod (0.5 mg: RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.25; I 2, 91%; 1.25 mg: RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.97-1.28; I 2, 81%; Pinteraction = 0.66). Conclusions: Compared with a placebo and other active treatments, fingolimod was associated with a 16% increase in the risk of infection, especially lower respiratory infection and herpes virus infection. The risk of infection associated with fingolimod might not be dose related.
Background and Aims: There is a controversy regarding whether fingolimod is associated with an increased risk of infection in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the risk of infection in these patients. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov from inception to April 8, 2020, to identify RCTs that reported the occurrence of infection in patients with MS treated with fingolimod. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model. Results: Twelve RCTs including 8,448 patients were eligible. Compared with the control (placebo and other active treatments), fingolimod significantly increased the risk of infection (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.07-1.27; I 2, 81%), regardless of whether the infection was a general infection (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25; I 2, 78%), or a serious infection (RR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.06-2.10; I 2, 0%). Analyses of subgroups found that fingolimod significantly increased the risk of lower respiratory infection (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.19-1.85; I 2, 0%) and herpes virus infection (RR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01-1.78; I 2, 9%). There appears to be no dose-dependent increase in the risk of infection associated with fingolimod (0.5 mg: RR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.07-1.25; I 2, 91%; 1.25 mg: RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.97-1.28; I 2, 81%; Pinteraction = 0.66). Conclusions: Compared with a placebo and other active treatments, fingolimod was associated with a 16% increase in the risk of infection, especially lower respiratory infection and herpes virus infection. The risk of infection associated with fingolimod might not be dose related.
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