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Research Article Volume 16 Issue 4
Natalizumab in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A retrospective case series of 14 patients at Mohammed V Military teaching hospital of Rabat
Houda Alloussi, Sara Slimani, Yassine Adraoui, Youssef Benmouh, Ahmad Bourazza
Received: September 22, 2026 | Published: October 7, 2026
Citation: Alloussi H, Slimani S, Adraoui Y, et al. Natalizumab in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A retrospective case series of 14 patients at Mohammed V Military teaching hospital of Rabat. J Neurol Stroke. 2026;16(4):174-176. DOI: 10.15406/jnsk.2026.16.00668
Abstract
Aims: To describe
clinical outcomes and tolerability of natalizumab in patients with
relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital
in Rabat. Study Design: Retrospective, single-center observational case series.
Place and duration of study:
Department of Neurology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, Morocco,
January 2013 to March 2023. Methodology: We reviewed records of 14 patients
treated with natalizumab and extracted relapse history, Expanded Disability
Status Scale (EDSS) scores, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, JC virus
antibody status, and adverse events.
Results: Mean age was
37.6 ± 13.1 years; 10 patients (71.4%) were women. Natalizumab was initiated as
first-line therapy in five patients and after interferon beta-1a in nine. Six
patients (42.9%) had no documented relapse during natalizumab treatment. In
eight patients with available data, mean annualized relapse rate was 2.0 before
any disease-modifying treatment and 1.6 during natalizumab treatment. Mean EDSS
scores were 3.88 before initial treatment and 2.19 after natalizumab, but these
assessments occurred at different treatment stages. Five patients had
nonserious adverse events, one had anaphylaxis, and one had MRI findings
suspicious for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy without documented
confirmation. Three patients discontinued natalizumab.
Conclusion: This small
retrospective series describes clinical experience with natalizumab in a
military teaching hospital. Differences in follow-up and missing paired
measurements preclude causal estimates of effectiveness; suspected progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy should not be counted as a confirmed event.
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, natalizumab, retrospective studies, relapse, disability, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
©2026 Alloussi, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.