title: Survey of Latin American Neuroimmunologists on the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with Monoclonal Antibodies.
abstract: Natalizumab and alemtuzumab are monoclonal antibodies approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). A third monoclonal antibody, daclizumab, should soon become another alternative for RRMS therapy. A group of 26 doctors working at specific MS Units in seven different Latin American countries participated in the present study. All 26 neurologists had experience with natalizumab for the treatment of MS and were willing to discuss strategies for improving this treatment. Most neurologists had no confidence in starting a patient on natalizumab and alemtuzumab, which are new and efficient drugs approved by North American, European and most Latin American health agencies. The Latin American specialists felt they were not properly informed on daclizumab. Specific pharmacovigilance programs for each of these monoclonal antibodies were considered very important by the neurologists, who were also willing to discuss these therapeutic options with peers from other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Rua da Constituicao 374 Santos, SP, 11015-470, Brazil. yara@bsnet.com.br.
authors.forename: Yara Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
mesh_terms: D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077561:Daclizumab; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000069442:Natalizumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000077561:Daclizumab