Natalizumab in the Pediatric MS Population
Natalizumab in the Pediatric MS Population
Natalizumab (NA) is approved for the treatment of the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS) for patients with inadequate response to first line treatments or with severe and active MS. First line medications, namely interferon beta (IFNB) and glatiramer acetate (GA), are the standard care of patients with pediatric with MS (ped-MS), however about 30 % of them are partial or non-responder to first line treatments requiring a shift to other disease modifying treatments (DMT). Some observational studies have shown that NA consistently reduces disease activity in patients with ped-MS. No relevant adverse events have been reported up to now, the major concern remaining the possible occurrence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This risk can now be evaluated by assessing the presence and the level of anti-JCV antibodies.
NA is considered as a promising option for ped-MS patients with active MS and a poor response to IFNB and GA, with the limitation that data are not available in large cohorts of patients and after a long-term follow up. We conducted this study to provide further pieces of information on this topic.
Background
Natalizumab (NA) is approved for the treatment of the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS) for patients with inadequate response to first line treatments or with severe and active MS. First line medications, namely interferon beta (IFNB) and glatiramer acetate (GA), are the standard care of patients with pediatric with MS (ped-MS), however about 30 % of them are partial or non-responder to first line treatments requiring a shift to other disease modifying treatments (DMT). Some observational studies have shown that NA consistently reduces disease activity in patients with ped-MS. No relevant adverse events have been reported up to now, the major concern remaining the possible occurrence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This risk can now be evaluated by assessing the presence and the level of anti-JCV antibodies.
NA is considered as a promising option for ped-MS patients with active MS and a poor response to IFNB and GA, with the limitation that data are not available in large cohorts of patients and after a long-term follow up. We conducted this study to provide further pieces of information on this topic.
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