Natalizumab treatment for multiple sclerosis: updates and considerations for safer treatment in JCV positive patients

Autor: Luiz Henrique da Silva Nali, Lenira Moraes, Maria Cristina Domingues Fink, Dagoberto Callegaro, Camila Malta Romano, Augusto Cesar Penalva de Oliveira
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Vol 72, Iss 12, Pp 960-965 (2014)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1678-4227
0004-282X
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20140142
Popis: Natalizumab is currently one of the best options for treatment of patients with Multiple Sclerosis who have failed traditional prior therapies. However, prolonged use, prior immunosuppressive therapy and anti-JCV antibody status have been associated with increased risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The evaluation of these conditions has been used to estimate risks of PML in these patients, and distinct (sometimes extreme) approaches are used to avoid the PML onset. At this time, the biggest issue facing the use of Natalizumab is how to get a balance between the risks and the benefits of the treatment. Hence, strategies for monitor JCV-positive patients undergoing Natalizumab treatment are deeply necessary. To illustrate it, we monitored JCV/DNA in blood and urine of a patient receiving Natalizumab for 12 months. We also bring to discussion the effectiveness of the current methods used for risk evaluation, and the real implications of viral reactivation.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals