title: Quantifying the risks and benefits of natalizumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Using published data, we quantified the risk and benefits of natalizumab in relapsing multiple sclerosis using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as a metric. Over the first 2 years of therapy, the negative health effects from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy were small (loss of 0.001 QALYs) relative to the positive effects on relapses and disability resulting in 0.033 QALYs (12 quality-adjusted days) gained. For context, we performed an analogous calculation for interferon beta-1a, which also had a net health benefit of 0.033 QALYs (12 quality-adjusted days).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14620, USA. ray.dorsey@ctcc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Dorsey
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noyes
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schwid
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000069442:Natalizumab; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069442:Natalizumab; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a