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1: N Engl J Med. 2005 Jul 28;353(4):362-8. Epub 2005 Jun 9.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
N Engl J Med. 2005 Jul 28;353(4):414-6.
N Engl J Med. 2005 Jul 28;353(4):417.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after natalizumab therapy for Crohn's disease.

Van Assche G, Van Ranst M, Sciot R, Dubois B, Vermeire S, Noman M, Verbeeck J, Geboes K, Robberecht W, Rutgeerts P.

Division of Gastroenterology, University of Leuven Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium.

The prior diagnosis of fatal astrocytoma in a 60-year-old man with Crohn's disease treated with natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody against alpha4 integrins, was reclassified as JC virus-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Analysis of frozen serum samples showed that JC virus DNA had appeared in the serum three months after the initiation of open-label natalizumab monotherapy and two months before the appearance of symptomatic PML. There was staining of the brain lesion for polyomavirus. This case report, along with two others, suggests that anti-alpha4-integrin therapy can result in JC virus-induced PML. Copyright 2005 Massachusetts Medical Society.

PMID: 15947080 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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