title: Efficacy and side effects of natalizumab therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Natalizumab (Nat) is a humanized monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Nat inhibits lymphocyte migration via the blood brain barrier (BBB) by blockage of an integrin adhesion molecule, very late antigen 4. During the phase III clinical trials, it was shown that Nat reduces disease activity and prevents disability progression. In addition, several smaller studies indicate a positive influence of Nat on cognition, depression, fatigue, and quality of life (Qol). Therapeutic efficacy has to be weighed against the risk of developing potentially fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an opportunistic infection by JC-virus (JCV) with an incidence of 3.4/1000 (95% CI 3.08-3.74) in Nat treated MS patients. In this review article, we will review data on the presumed mechanism of Nat action, clinical and paraclinical efficacy parameters, and adverse drug reactions with a special focus on PML.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoepner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faissner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
keywords: immunomodulatory therapy; progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; risk management strategies; side effects