Longitudinal JCV serology in multiple sclerosis patients preceding natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vennegoor, Anke; van Rossum, Johannis A; Polman, Chris H; Wattjes, Mike P; Killestein, Joep
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 21:Number 12(2015)
• Page Start: 1600
• Page End: 1603
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- natalizumab -- John Cunningham Virus (JCV) -- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML); Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458514567728
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

The presence of anti-John Cunningham Virus (JCV) antibodies is a risk factor for the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in MS patients treated with natalizumab. It has been suggested that an increase in serum anti-JCV antibody index precedes the development of PML. We here describe extensive longitudinal serum anti-JCV antibody indexes of four MS patients who developed PML. Anti-JCV antibodies were measured using the STRATIFY JCV™DxSelect™ test. All four patients had rather stable high anti-JCV antibody indexes in all samples obtained before developing PML. Possibly caused by reaching the saturation level of the assay, no increase in anti-JCV antibody indexes was seen just before the diagnosis of PML. This study confirms that high serum anti-JCV antibody indexes precede natalizumab-associated PML.