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Infectious Complications of Novel Multiple Sclerosis Therapies

S N Levin1,2, T B Kaplan3,4

  • 1Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Current Infectious Disease Reports
|February 25, 2017
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

New multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies offer benefits but increase risks of serious infections like progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Screening guidelines are crucial for managing these risks in MS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system autoimmune demyelinating disease.
  • MS is typically characterized by relapses and remissions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review common and serious infections associated with novel disease-modifying therapies for MS.
  • To highlight the need for screening guidelines due to increased opportunistic infections.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from Phase II and III randomized controlled trials.
  • Inclusion of case reports, drug manufacturing data, and clinical experience.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in disease-modifying therapies for MS over the past decade.
  • Fourteen FDA-approved immunomodulatory drugs are available, with more in development.
  • Opportunistic infections, including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), are serious complications of these therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Novel MS therapies, while beneficial, carry risks of severe infections.
  • Specific screening guidelines are necessary to mitigate infection risks in MS patients undergoing new treatments.
Keywords:
ImmunomodulatorsMultiple sclerosisOpportunistic infectionsProgressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

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