Dimethyl fumarate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: real-world effectiveness in a Turkish cohort

@article{sen2026dimethyl,
  title = {{Dimethyl fumarate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: real-world effectiveness in a Turkish cohort}},
  author = {Sedat Şen and Yeşim Beckmann and Rana Karabudak and Gökhan Arslan and Elif Merve Helvacı and Mehmet Fatih Yetkin and Cihat Uzunköprü and Recai Türkoǧlu and Saltanat Mert and Emine Rabia Koç and Belgin Petek Balci and Sena Destan Bünül and Aslı Tuncer and Özlem Ethemoǧlu and Semra Mungan and Caner Feyzi Demir and Nuray Bilge and Meral Seferoǧlu and Aylin Akçali and Abdülkadir Tunç and Kadriye Aǧan and Hüsnü Efendi and Cavit Boz and Nur Yüceyar and Tahir Kurtuluş Yoldaş and Yılmaz İnanç and Furkan Sarıdaş and Nilda Turgut and Ali Özhan Sivaci and Dürdane Aksoy and Ömer Faruk Turan and Nazire Pınar Acar Özer and Mehmet Tecellioǧlu and Aysu Çetiner Şeker and Gülin Sünter and Asli Köşderelioǧlu and Fatma Avşar Ertürk and Vedat Çilingir and Gülnur Tekgöl Uzuner and Aydan Köysüren and Bülent Güven and Huriye Hayat Güven and Ilknur Aydin Cantürk and Burcu Altunrende and Bedriye Karaman and Gülgün Uncu and Şeyda Figül Gökçe and Dilcan Kotan and Asli Aksoy Gündoǧdu and Serpil Demirci and Bilgin Öztürk and Yaşar Altun and Şule Aydin Türkoǧlu and Melike Batum and Zeynep Özdemir and Azize Esra Gürsoy and Duygu Arslan Mehdiyev and Rabia Gökçen Gözübatik Çelik and Zeynep Özözen Ayas and Adalet Arikanoǧlu},
  journal = {Frontiers in Neurology},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3389/fneur.2026.1920500},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1920500/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dimethyl fumarate in the treatment of multiple sclerosis: real-world effectiveness in a Turkish cohort
AU  - Sedat Şen
AU  - Yeşim Beckmann
AU  - Rana Karabudak
AU  - Gökhan Arslan
AU  - Elif Merve Helvacı
AU  - Mehmet Fatih Yetkin
AU  - Cihat Uzunköprü
AU  - Recai Türkoǧlu
AU  - Saltanat Mert
AU  - Emine Rabia Koç
AU  - Belgin Petek Balci
AU  - Sena Destan Bünül
AU  - Aslı Tuncer
AU  - Özlem Ethemoǧlu
AU  - Semra Mungan
AU  - Caner Feyzi Demir
AU  - Nuray Bilge
AU  - Meral Seferoǧlu
AU  - Aylin Akçali
AU  - Abdülkadir Tunç
AU  - Kadriye Aǧan
AU  - Hüsnü Efendi
AU  - Cavit Boz
AU  - Nur Yüceyar
AU  - Tahir Kurtuluş Yoldaş
AU  - Yılmaz İnanç
AU  - Furkan Sarıdaş
AU  - Nilda Turgut
AU  - Ali Özhan Sivaci
AU  - Dürdane Aksoy
AU  - Ömer Faruk Turan
AU  - Nazire Pınar Acar Özer
AU  - Mehmet Tecellioǧlu
AU  - Aysu Çetiner Şeker
AU  - Gülin Sünter
AU  - Asli Köşderelioǧlu
AU  - Fatma Avşar Ertürk
AU  - Vedat Çilingir
AU  - Gülnur Tekgöl Uzuner
AU  - Aydan Köysüren
AU  - Bülent Güven
AU  - Huriye Hayat Güven
AU  - Ilknur Aydin Cantürk
AU  - Burcu Altunrende
AU  - Bedriye Karaman
AU  - Gülgün Uncu
AU  - Şeyda Figül Gökçe
AU  - Dilcan Kotan
AU  - Asli Aksoy Gündoǧdu
AU  - Serpil Demirci
AU  - Bilgin Öztürk
AU  - Yaşar Altun
AU  - Şule Aydin Türkoǧlu
AU  - Melike Batum
AU  - Zeynep Özdemir
AU  - Azize Esra Gürsoy
AU  - Duygu Arslan Mehdiyev
AU  - Rabia Gökçen Gözübatik Çelik
AU  - Zeynep Özözen Ayas
AU  - Adalet Arikanoǧlu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/03
JO  - Frontiers in Neurology
DO  - 10.3389/fneur.2026.1920500
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2026.1920500/full
AB  - Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is approved as a first-line treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).  Aim: To evaluate the demographic, clinical, and radiological outcomes of DMF treatment in a real-world setting.  Study design: Multicenter retrospective study based on data from 61 clinics across Türkiye.  Methods: Side effects, leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, liver enzymes, EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), and upper- and lower-extremity test results were evaluated in patients with RRMS before DMF initiation and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months. Additionally, NEDA-3 (No Evidence of Disease Activity-3) status was assessed at the 1 and 2-year follow-ups.  Results: 1,749 patients participated in this retrospective study. The most common side effects were flushing and gastrointestinal symptoms, which were more frequent in women and in patients with lower weight and lower Body Mass Index (BMI). Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts initially decreased and then stabilized, whereas transient elevations in liver enzymes resolved during follow-up. EDSS scores showed a significant improvement beginning at the 6-month follow-up. Performance on the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) improved, whereas no significant change was observed in the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). In addition, approximately 70% of the patients achieved NEDA-3 status at both the 1 and 2-year follow-ups.  Conclusion: DMF demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was associated with significant improvements in EDSS while maintaining NEDA-3 status in approximately 70% of patients with RRMS. Adverse events occurred more frequently among women and among patients with lower body weight and lower BMI.
SN  - 1664-2295
ER  -