Natalizumab Is Associated with JC Virus Antibody Seroconversion and Rising Titers

The finding has implications for mitigating PML risk in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Natalizumab therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) from the John Cunningham virus (JCV). Serum JCV antibodies are a clinically useful biomarker for categorizing PML risk. Patients who are seropositive and who have high antibody titers (as measured by the JCV index) are at greatest risk for PML.

Now, researchers have examined change in JCV-antibody status upon initiation of natalizumab. Of 339 German patients who were JCV-antibody seronegative and were followed longitudinally, 12.7% seroconverted to JCV-antibody–positive status in 14.8 months, a conversion rate of 10.3% per year. Of 243 initially JCV-antibody–negative French patients followed longitudinally, 16.9% seroco…

Reviewing Author

Jeffrey M. Gelfand, MD, MAS

Disclosures

12/1/14I recently attended a trial investigator meeting as a sub-investigator for a clinical trial sponsored by Medimmune.

Jeffrey M. Gelfand, MD, MAS

Disclosures

12/1/14I recently attended a trial investigator meeting as a sub-investigator for a clinical trial sponsored by Medimmune.

Natalizumab Is Associated with JC Virus Antibody Seroconversion and Rising Titers

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Reviewing Author