Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32714497›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology2020

Effects of fingolimod treatments on alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Saeid Sadeghi Joni, Masoumeh Cheshmavar, Pouria Shoureshi, Zohreh Zamani, Niusha Taoosi, Morteza Akbari, Mahdieh Afzali

Open access · greenAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 37% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The effect of fingolimod (FTY720) protecting the retina of rats from light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD).Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Saeid Sadeghi JoniDepartment of Radiology, Razi Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences Rasht, Iran.
Masoumeh CheshmavarDepartment of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan, Iran.
Pouria ShoureshiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Orange Park Medical Center Florida, USA.
Zohreh ZamaniDepartment of Neurology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran.
Niusha TaoosiIslamic University of Riau Riau, Indonesia.
Morteza AkbariSchool of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan, Iran.
Mahdieh AfzaliDepartment of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan, Iran.
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · IRGuilan University of Medical Sciences · IRIran University of Medical Sciences · IRIslamic University of Riau · ID

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMultiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder with no known cause or cure. Fingolimod (FTY720) is an oral medication recently approved for the treatment of MS as well as other diseases with autoimmune aspects. However, the drug is not without side effects. The severity and prevalence of these side effects are not completely understood. One of the most common causes for the patient cessation of fingolimod is an increase in liver enzymes, indicating possible inflammation or damage to liver cells. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) are the most common liver enzymes used as indicators of hepatic health.

objectivesThis three-month prospective cohort study selected patients who were diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and who were not taking fingolimod oral treatment. ALT and AST levels were determined for these patients at baseline and then after three months of taking FTY720 to determine if these liver enzymes were changed.

methods36 RRMS patients completed this study, which lasted three months. They were started on 0.5 oral FTY720 after approval from a physician and completion of an AST/ALT blood test. Baseline levels were determined and then taken again three months later. Statistical analysis of these values was performed using P<0.05 as a significance threshold.

resultsIn this sample of patients, only ALT levels were significantly increased after fingolimod treatment in the general cohort (P=0.00). The general cohort showed an insignificant increase in AST levels. In male and female populations separately, AST was not significantly increased. ALT was only significantly increased in men (P=0.00) and insignificantly increased in women.

conclusionThis study further confirms our concerns about fingolimod's possible effects on the liver. While these numbers do support the claim that the drug does on average increase ALT in patient populations, it is important to note that most of these patients have no real hepatic side effects. In addition, previous studies have cited a return to normal ALT and AST levels after cessation of fingolimod, suggesting its effects are temporary and not severely damaged in the usual patient.

Indexed as

fingolimodliver enzymesMultiple sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID32714497
PMCPMC7364390
OpenAlexW3046558150

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.