Sarcoidosis following alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Willis, Mark D; Hope-Gill, Ben; Flood-Page, Patrick; Joseph, Fady; Needham, Ed; Jones, Joanne; Coles, Alasdair; Robertson, Neil P
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 24:Number 13(2018)
• Page Start: 1779
• Page End: 1782
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- alemtuzumab; 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: 10.1177/1352458518790391
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Despite proven efficacy of alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis (MS), approximately 50% of individuals will develop a new autoimmune disease following treatment. To date, these have largely been antibody mediated and organ specific (primarily affecting the thyroid gland). In a retrospective case series of 187 patients from two UK specialist centres (Cardiff and Cambridge) followed up for a median of 10 years, we report three (1.6%) cases of sarcoidosis following alemtuzumab treatment of MS. This report increases the spectrum of auto-inflammatory disease following alemtuzumab and should be considered by clinicians when using this therapeutic agent for MS.