Department of Neuroscience, Neurologic Clinics, Tor Vergata
University, Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/Fondazione
Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy centonze@uniroma2.it.
Background: Natalizumab is prescribed in Italy in patients who
experienced at least two clinical relapses during a 12-month therapy with other
approved immunomodulatory agents.Results: In 7 of 35 patients selected on the
basis of these recommendations, we have observed clinical relapses occurring
within 24 h after the first dose of natalizumab.Conclusion: The mechanism by which
a first injection of natalizumab may precipitate a clinical relapse in patients
with MS is unknown. We speculate that natalizumab can promote the release of
inflammatory mediators from lymphocytes present in the central nervous system at
the time of the first infusion, thus favoring the clinical manifestation of a
pre-existing active lesion.
PMID: 18701574 [PubMed - in process]
