title: Natalizumab adverse events are rare in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and the profile of adverse events (AE) of natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection from neurologists attending to patients with MS at specialized units in Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 103 patients attending the infusion centers of 16 MS units in 9 Brazilian states were included in the study. The total number of infusions was 1,042. Seventy-nine patients (76.7%) did not present any AE. Twenty-four patients (23.3%) presented only mild AE. There were three major AE, including two deaths. These three occurrences, although not necessarily being drug-related, must be taken into consideration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The profile of AEs for natalizumab shows that 97% of patients have none or only mild AE. However, still due to safety worries, the use of this medication should be restricted to MS units under the care of specialized neurologists.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos (UNIMES), Santos SP, Brazil. yara@bsnet.com.br
authors.forename: Yára Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.forename: Walter Oleschko
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: Margarete de Jesus
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Elizabeth Regina
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Comini-Frota
authors.forename: Éber Castro
authors.initials: ÉC
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Brito
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Paulo Diniz da
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius Magno
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Damacio Ramón
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kaimen-Maciel
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Rogerio Rizo
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: Pedro Rippel
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Livia Brito Bezerra de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Joseph Bruno Bidin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fêzer
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgetto
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Fabíola Rachid
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Malfetano
authors.forename: Isabella D'Andrea
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Meira
authors.forename: Celso Luis Silva
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Francisco Tomaz Meneses de
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safanelli
authors.forename: Massaco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satomi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069442:Natalizumab; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069442:Natalizumab