Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39686558›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of neurology2025

Switching from natalizumab to antiCD20 monoclonal antibodies: Short transition interval is associated with improved outcome.

Gabriel Bsteh, Robert Hoepner, Jonathan A Gernert, Klaus Berek, Christiane Gradl, Dariia Kliushnikova, Anna Damulina, Gerhard Traxler, Fabian Föttinger, Sebastian Habernig and 14 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of neurology, 2025. 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
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

  1. The Art of Sequencing Disease-Modifying Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
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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

24 authors.

Gabriel BstehDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-0825-0851
Robert HoepnerDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-0115-7021
Jonathan A GernertInstitute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-6655-5557
Klaus BerekDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-2755-2043
Christiane GradlDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Austria.
Dariia KliushnikovaDepartment of Neurology, Christian-Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Anna DamulinaDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-8241-2727
Gerhard TraxlerDepartment of Neurology 2, Med Campus III, Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Linz, Austria.
Fabian FöttingerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.ORCID 0009-0005-7970-5349
Sebastian HabernigDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Nik KrajncDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Alejandro Xavier León BetancourtDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Markus PonleitnerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Tobias ZrzavyDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-8909-1591
Florian DeisenhammerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0003-4541-8841
Franziska Di PauliDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0001-6183-2394
Joachim HavlaInstitute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Michael KhalilDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Tania KümpfelInstitute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Peter WipflerDepartment of Neurology, Christian-Doppler University Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Andrew ChanDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Thomas BergerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Helly HammerDepartment of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Harald HegenDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-2833-6337

Funding

Austrian MS Research SocietyMedical Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the impact of transition interval length when switching from natalizumab (NTZ) to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (antiCD20) on recurrent disease activity and safety in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

methodsAggregating data from 8 MS centres in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, we included RMS patients who (i) continuously received NTZ for ≥3 months, (ii) were switched to antiCD20, and (iii) had ≥12 months follow-up after switch. The primary endpoint was occurrence of relapse after switch, secondary endpoints included severe infections (CTCAE grade ≥3).

resultsOverall, 139 RMS patients were included (70.5% females, mean age at switch 38.8 years [SD 9.7], mean disease duration at switch 11.3 years [SD 6.2], median duration on NTZ 4.4 years [range: 0.3-16.4], median transition interval 58 days [0-180]). Relapse occurred in 18 patients (12.9%) after NTZ discontinuation. Of those, 11 (61.1%) patients relapsed during the transition interval. No patient with a transition interval below 30 days experienced a relapse, compared to 11.1% and 16.1% with transition intervals of 30-44 days and ≥ 45 days, respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, a transition interval ≥ 45 days predicted a 4.73-fold increased risk of relapse. Over approximately 4 years of follow-up, six severe infections were reported without any noticeable effect of transition interval length. No PML occurred.

conclusionsSwitching from NTZ to antiCD20 is generally both effective and safe. Keeping the transition interval below 30 days provides the optimal balance between preventing recurrent disease activity and ensuring safety.

Indexed as

Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingNatalizumabAdultDrug SubstitutionFemaleHumansImmunologic FactorsMaleMiddle AgedRecurrenceTreatment OutcomeImmunologic FactorsNatalizumabCD20multiple sclerosisnatalizumabpredictionriskswitch

Identifiers

PMID39686558
PMCPMC11649819

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