title: Natalizumab-treated patients at high risk for PML persistently excrete JC polyomavirus.
abstract: Sixty-three natalizumab-treated patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis were screened for JC polyomavirus (JCV) viruria. Urinary-positive patients were longitudinally sampled for up to 24 weeks. Using methods that distinguish encapsidated virus from naked viral DNA, 17.5 % of patients were found to excrete virus, consistent with the prevalence of urinary excretion in the general population. Unexpectedly, urinary excretion was predominantly seen (>73 %) in patients with high JC antibody index (≥2.0). Active JCV infection, therefore, tends to occur in natalizumab patients that carry a high risk factor for the development of disease, directly linking JC infection to the risk factors for PML development.
authors.affiliation: Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc., 3350 Riverwood Pkwy SE, Ste 1900, Atlanta, GA, 30339, USA. mhwerner@inhibikase.com.
authors.forename: Milton H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research, Neurology and Neuroscience Associates, Inc., 701 White Pond Dr., Akron, OH, 44320, USA.
authors.forename: DeRen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000652:urine; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007577:JC Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine / Q000821:virology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine / Q000821:virology; D000069442:Natalizumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069442:Natalizumab
keywords: JCV; Natalizumab; Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML); Risk factors; Tysabri