title: Disappearance of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands after natalizumab treatment of multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis in an oligoclonal pattern is the most common immunologic abnormality detected in MS patients. Various treatments, such as immunomodulators and immunosuppressors, have not been found to modify it. Natalizumab hinders migration of encephalitogenic T-cells into the central nervous system (CNS), reducing inflammatory response. Its impact on CSF oligoclonal bands (OCBs) has not been demonstrated. This report describes its effect in four out of six patients with multiple sclerosis after a mean of 10 infusions: the CSF was negative for OCBs at the second lumbar puncture. In conclusion, natalizumab treatment can reduce CSF OCBs to undetectable levels, although the clinical significance of this observation is not yet known.
authors: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil.
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: von Glehn
authors: Alessandro S
authors: AS
authors: Farias
authors: Augusto C Penalva
authors: AC
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Damasceno
authors: Ana Leda F
authors: AL
authors: Longhini
authors: Elaine C
authors: EC
authors: Oliveira
authors: Benito P
authors: BP
authors: Damasceno
authors: Leonilda M B
authors: LM
authors: Santos
authors: Carlos Otávio
authors: CO
authors: Brandão
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000069442:Natalizumab; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069442:Natalizumab; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands