Key result
Natalizumab is an effective disease-modifying therapy for preventing relapses in multiple sclerosis, but its use requires careful risk stratification due to the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Why the study?
Does natalizumab prevent relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis?
Does natalizumab prevent relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis?
Natalizumab provides strong efficacy in preventing multiple sclerosis relapses and disability progression, but requires strict risk stratification and monitoring due to the life-threatening risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
NTZ offers relapse control in RRMS but requires PML vigilance; review leaves open optimal post-discontinuation and weight-based strategies in Japan.
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative and inflammatory immune disorder in the central nervous system (CNS). Most patients show relapse-remitting clinical course. Some disease modifying medications for preventing the relapses including natalizumab (NTZ) are approved in Japan. Natalizumab (NTZ), a monoclonal antibody against α4 integrin present on the surface of lymphocytes, inhibits the binding of lymphocytes to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) of endothelial cells and blocks the penetration of encephalitogenic T cells into the CNS. This review provides an update on the efficacy of an inhibition of relapses, adverse effects including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, treatment after NTZ discontinuation, and body weight based treatment.
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Masami Tanaka (2015) conducted a review in Multiple sclerosis. Natalizumab was evaluated. Natalizumab is an effective disease-modifying therapy for preventing relapses in multiple sclerosis, but its use requires careful risk stratification due to the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
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