Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
05:51

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 14, 2021

4.6K

Drug-Induced Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Comprehensive Analysis of the WHO Adverse Drug Reaction

Mauro Melis1, Chiara Biagi1, Lars Småbrekke2

  • 1Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, Italy.

CNS Drugs
|October 29, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study identified new drug safety signals for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Researchers found associations between various drug classes and PML onset, confirming some known risks and highlighting the need for regulatory follow-up.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Neurology
  • Drug Safety

Background:

  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, serious demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
  • Identifying potential drug-induced risks for PML is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detect novel safety signals linking drug use to the development of PML.
  • To analyze drug-reaction pairs in a global safety database for PML-related adverse events.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the World Health Organization's spontaneous individual case safety reports database up to September 2014.
  • Analyzed 2452 reports for drug-leukoencephalopathy associations using the reporting odds ratio (ROR).
  • Defined safety signals based on ROR > 2 and a lower 95% confidence limit > 1 for drug-PML pairs.

Main Results:

  • Identified 343 different drugs associated with PML or leukoencephalopathy reports.
  • Found significant disproportionality for 88 drugs, with 59 new safety signals for active substances.
  • Antineoplastic agents, systemic antivirals, and immunostimulants were the most frequent drug classes involved.

Conclusions:

  • Reported potential associations between several drugs and PML not previously described.
  • Confirmed previously identified drug safety signals for PML.
  • Emphasized the necessity for regulatory agencies to investigate these findings further.

More Related Videos

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease06:45

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 4, 2021

3.7K
Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo10:50

Visualizing Impairment of the Endothelial and Glial Barriers of the Neurovascular Unit during Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis In Vivo

Published on: March 26, 2019

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacovigilance01:19

Pharmacovigilance

Post-marketing surveillance is a critical component of pharmaceutical regulation, often uncovering unanticipated adverse drug reactions (ADRs) once a drug is widely used over an extended period.
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
1.9K
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
163
Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions01:16

Drug toxicity: Idiosyncratic Reactions

Idiosyncratic drug reactions represent abnormal chemical responses that vary significantly among individuals, ranging from extreme sensitivity to low doses to insensitivity to high doses. These reactions often occur due to the drug's covalent binding with serum proteins, forming a foreign hapten that triggers an immunotoxicological response. The variability in drug reactions has a strong pharmacogenetic foundation, with genetic differences crucial in how individuals metabolize drugs. For...
168
Drug Toxicity: Overview01:00

Drug Toxicity: Overview

Drug toxicity quantifies the harm a compound causes to an organism, varying by dose and potentially impacting whole systems or specific organs like the liver. Toxic reactions may arise from venomous insect or spider bites, with effects ranging from mild symptoms to severe outcomes such as brain damage or death. Common forms of acute poisoning include ethanol intoxication and overdose of pain or fever medications, with substances like GHB and heroin being particularly lethal at doses close to...
189
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions01:30

Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions

Drug-related allergies are immune-mediated responses triggered by the administration of pharmacological agents. These hypersensitivity reactions are classified based on the immune mechanisms involved. The four primary types—Type I, II, III, and IV—are mediated by different immunological pathways and exhibit distinct clinical manifestations.Type I Hypersensitivity/ IgE-Mediated Reactions: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) immediately mediates Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Upon initial...
135
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
170