Disease activity return during natalizumab treatment interruption in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The correspondence this week highlights controversial points in 2 recently published articles. Dr. Rammohan and colleagues disagree with the findings of Dr. O'Connor et al. that, after discontinuation of natalizumab therapy, multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity returns to baseline levels without rebound, based partly on methodologic concerns. In his response, Dr. O'Connor clarifies the study's methodology and justifies the conclusions. In reference to another study, Drs. Mascitelli and Goldstein question the conclusion that statins are beneficial in young patients with strokes of unknown etiology based on other literature showing that higher cholesterol is associated with decreased stroke severity and poststroke mortality. Putaala et al. contend that their study focused on reducing future vascular events rather than stroke outcomes and that their data show a …