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Published on: July 19, 2019
Prevalence of Anti-JC Virus (JCV) Antibodies in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Population in Cyprus: A Retrospective
Sakis Lambrianides1, Christiana A Demetriou2, Andis Tillyris1
1Neurology Clinics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Background And Purpose:
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system caused by the ubiquitous polyomavirus JC (JCV) in immunocompromised hosts. In recent years, a new subpopulation of patients at risk for PML has emerged, due to the growing use of immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The anti-JCV antibody index is used as a stratification tool in assessing the risk of developing PML. The objective of this study was to retrospectively describe the prevalence of anti-JCV antibodies in the MS population in Cyprus.
Methods:
We retrospectively collected the demographics of 214 MS patients in Cyprus who were screened for anti-JCV antibodies using the STRATIFY JCV™ assay between September 2011 and June 2018. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of demographic variables on seropositivity, and bivariate tests were used to assess the association between demographic characteristics and JCV AI index.
Results:
A total of 214 MS patients in Cyprus were tested. Overall anti-JCV antibody prevalence was 45.8% (95% confidence interval 37.2%-55.8%). We could not establish a significant association between seropositivity and increasing age or sex. In the subgroup analysis of natalizumab-treated patients, the annual seroconversion rate was 4.5%.
Conclusions:
Overall seroprevalence of anti-JCV antibodies in MS patients in Cyprus using the STRATIFY JCV assay was lower than the worldwide reported mean. Although previously reported, in our study, the anti-JCV antibody seropositivity was not associated with increasing age or sex.
Insights
The study found that 45.8% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Cyprus have anti-JCV antibodies, a lower prevalence than globally reported. Seropositivity was not linked to age or sex in this MS population.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe CNS disease caused by JC polyomavirus (JCV) in immunocompromised individuals.
- The increasing use of immunomodulatory therapies for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) has led to a rise in PML risk.
- The anti-JCV antibody index serves as a critical tool for stratifying PML risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anti-JCV antibodies in the MS patient population in Cyprus.
- To investigate the association between demographic variables and anti-JCV antibody seropositivity in MS patients.
- To assess the seroconversion rate in MS patients undergoing natalizumab treatment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective collection of demographic data from 214 MS patients in Cyprus screened for anti-JCV antibodies.
- Utilized the STRATIFY JCV™ assay for antibody detection between September 2011 and June 2018.
- Employed logistic regression and bivariate tests to analyze demographic associations with seropositivity and JCV antibody index (AI).
Main Results:
- Overall anti-JCV antibody prevalence in the studied MS population was 45.8%.
- No significant association was found between seropositivity and increasing age or sex.
- The annual seroconversion rate among natalizumab-treated MS patients was 4.5%.
Conclusions:
- The seroprevalence of anti-JCV antibodies in Cypriot MS patients is lower than the global average.
- Anti-JCV antibody seropositivity in MS patients was not significantly associated with age or sex in this cohort.
- Findings contribute to understanding JCV risk stratification in MS patients undergoing specific therapies.
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