Immune competence after alemtuzumab treatment of multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the immunocompetency of patients with multiple sclerosis treated with the lymphodepleting humanized monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab.

Methods

In this pilot case-control study, we assessed immunocompetence in 24 patients after alemtuzumab treatment by measuring antibody responses to 3 vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, and poliomyelitis vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine). In 20 patients, antibodies to common viruses (mumps, rubella, varicella-zoster, and Epstein-Barr virus) were measured before alemtuzumab treatment, then at 1 and 9-11 months after treatment. Results were compared with well-defined historical controls.

Results

Serum antibodies against common viru

SUBMITTER: McCarthy CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3885219 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature