High prevalence and indexes of anti-John Cunningham virus antibodies in a cohort of Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis. Issue 3 (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lau, Alexander; Qiu, Wei; Kermode, Allan; Au, Cheryl; Ng, Angel; Wong, Adrian; Ma, Sze-Ho; Au, Lisa; Ma, Karen; Ip, Bonaventure; Mok, Vincent
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis journal, experimental, translational and clinical. Volume 4:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Anti-John Cunningham virus antibody -- Chinese -- anti-John Cunningham virus index -- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy -- multiple sclerosis; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; 616.834
• DOI: 10.1177/2055217318788699
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2173

Abstract

We performed a cross-sectional study in 123 Chinese multiple sclerosis patients residing in Hong Kong to evaluate their anti-John Cunningham virus status using STRATIFY JCV DxSelect assays. Anti-John Cunningham virus antibody was present in 98/123 (80%) subjects, among which 75/98 (77%) had an anti-John Cunningham virus index ≥1.5. Anti-John Cunningham virus antibody seropositivity was not correlated with age, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, types of multiple sclerosis (relapsing vs progressive), or disease-modifying treatments used. We found a very high seroprevalence and index of anti-John Cunningham virus antibodies in Chinese multiple sclerosis patients, which may impact the risk assessment and recommendation of disease-modifying treatments in this population.