Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
09:41

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Published on: July 19, 2019

12.1K

Infectious risk stratification in multiple sclerosis patients receiving immunotherapy

Jonas Graf1, Verena I Leussink1, Thomas Dehmel2

  • 1Department of Neurology University Hospital Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf Germany.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|January 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Latent tuberculosis infection is common in German multiple sclerosis patients. Screening before immunotherapy is crucial to prevent tuberculosis reactivation during treatment for multiple sclerosis or NMOSD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Potent treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) necessitate infection screening.
  • Latent infections pose a risk of reactivation during immunosuppressive therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of infections, specifically latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), in German patients with MS/NMOSD.
  • To assess the need for pre-treatment screening for LTBI in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of MS/NMOSD patients who underwent infection testing between 2014 and 2016.
  • Analysis of two independent German patient cohorts (Düsseldorf and Münster).

Main Results:

  • Latent tuberculosis infection was identified in 3.95% of tested patients (95% CI: 2-8%).
  • Specifically, 6 out of 80 patients in the Düsseldorf cohort and 2 out of 97 in the Münster cohort had LTBI.
  • The prevalence of LTBI exceeded 1% in both cohorts.

Conclusions:

  • Latent tuberculosis infection is a frequent comorbidity in German patients with MS/NMOSD.
  • Routine screening for LTBI is recommended before initiating immunomodulatory therapies.
  • Early detection and treatment of LTBI can mitigate the risk of reactivation during MS/NMOSD treatment.

More Related Videos

The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool11:35

The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool

Published on: June 30, 2014

58.8K
A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS08:18

A Protocol for the Use of Remotely-Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Multiple Sclerosis MS

Published on: December 26, 2015

18.1K

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
2.0K
Receiver Operating Characteristic Plot01:15

Receiver Operating Characteristic Plot

A ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) plot is a graphical tool used to assess the performance of a binary classification model by illustrating the trade-off between sensitivity (true positive rate) and specificity (false positive rate). By plotting sensitivity against 1 - specificity across various threshold settings, the ROC curve shows how well the model distinguishes between classes, with a curve closer to the top-left corner indicating a more accurate model. The area under the ROC curve...
496
Relative Risk01:12

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
2.2K
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.9K
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
38.3K
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...
18