title: Age-Dependent Seroprevalence of JCV Antibody in Children.
abstract: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic central nervous system infection, caused by the John Cunningham virus (JCV). PML may occur during treatment with immunosuppressive agents or monoclonal antibodies such as natalizumab. The JCV seroprevalence increases with age with a seropositivity of 60% in the adult human population. In this study, we analyzed sera from 109 pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (mean age 14 years) as well as sera from 162 patients with a wide range of suspected neurologic disorders (mean age 6.3 years). Our results showed a considerably lower seroprevalence for JCV in our pediatric cohort with 33.3% and equal distribution in both subgroups, compared with reported seropositivity in adult population. This could result in a lower risk for drug-induced PML in pediatric patients compared with adult patients and can influence the indication for natalizumab therapy in pediatric MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Olgahospital - Pediatrics, Kriegsbergstraße, Stuttgart 70174, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hennes
authors.affiliation: Medical University Vienna, Neurology, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kornek
authors.affiliation: Medical University Göttingen, Pediatric Neurology, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huppke
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Innsbruck, Neurology, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.affiliation: Vestische Kinderklinik Datteln, Pediatric Neurology, Datteln, Germany.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rostasy
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Innsbruck, Neurology, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral