Are there any clinical and electrocardiographic predictors of heart rate reduction in relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with fingolimod?

Background: Fingolimod, a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist, is used for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). S1P receptors that fingolimod acts upon have also been shown to be expressed on atrial myocytes. This expression pattern has been linked with the drug's cardiovascular effects, such as bradycardia. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and electrocardiographic predictors of heart rate (HR) reduction in patients receiving first-dose fingolimod. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed subjects diagnosed with RRMS who were allocated to fingolimod treatment. HR, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values and electrocardiography during the first dose of fingolimod were accessed. Results: A total of 114 RRMS patients (65.8% female, 33.58 ± 8.63 years) were included. After the initial dose of fingolimod, the heart rate decreased significantly at each hour (each p < 0.001). Nadir heart rate was reached at 4 h. The multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI (OR: 0.878, p = 0.045), optic nerve involvement (OR: 3.205, p = 0.018), baseline HR (OR: 1.079, p = 0.002) and T-peak-T-end interval (OR: 1.046, p = 0.030) were independent predictors of greater HR reduction. During 6-h monitorization, none of the patients had relevant adverse reactions. Conclusion: Our findings provide an insight on clinical and electrocardiographic predictors of HR reduction that occurs in RRMS patients receiving first dose of fingolimod.