Background: Rebound phenomena after discontinuation of different treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have previously been described. Systematic database research in PubMed did not show any report with relapse directly associated with dimethyl fumarate (DMF) cessation.
Case presentation: Here, we report on a 38-year-old Caucasian male patient suffering from a relatively mild course of RRMS who developed a fulminant clinical rebound 2 months after discontinuation of DMF therapy. Radiological alterations presented impressively with primarily spinal involvement. The patient received intensive care and multiple immunomodulating therapies.
Conclusion: We report on this case to raise neurologist's awareness of complications of basic therapy discontinuation in RRMS.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis; clinical rebound; dimethyl fumarate cessation; dimethyl fumarate discontinuation.