Key clinical point: This study found significant increases in blood pressure (BP) during alemtuzumab infusions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Major finding: For cycle 1, systolic BP (SBP) increased by 19.2 ± 9.4 mmHg during first infusion, with comparable percentage over the next 5 infusions (16%, 22%, 17%, 11%, and 13%), respectively. Diastolic BP (DBP) increased by 6.2 ± 3.8 mmHg with similar percentage increase as well (8.4%, 11.5%, 5.5%, 7%, and 3%). Second cycle (12 months later) showed similar increases in SBP and DBP as the first cycle. Third cycle (at variable follow-up times) showed similar trends with increased SBP and DBP. Overall, 54.8% of patients had increasing BP reading by 20% or more from baseline, while 29% had increased by at least 20 mmHg from baseline.
Study details: The data come from a retrospective study of SBP and DBP in MS patients treated with alemtuzumab at the London MS Clinic (n = 31; 64.5% females; mean age, 35.2 years).
Disclosures: No study sponsor was identified. Eslam Shosha and Christine Tomkinson reported no disclosures. Sarah Morrow and Courtney Casserly reported relationships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.
Source: Shosha E et al. Eur J Neurol. 2020 Nov 11. doi: 10.1111/ene.14633 .