Anti-JC virus seroprevalence in a Finnish MS cohort

Abstract

The study confirmed a high anti-JCV antibody prevalence in patients with MS and its association with age and male gender but not with disease-modifying therapies. Our data suggest that therapy with natalizumab may cause a decrease in anti-JCV antibody levels, suggesting an immunosuppressive effect of natalizumab without an impact on JCV seroprevalence. The results of studies performed until now confirm the predictive value of anti-JCV antibody measurement in the assessment of PML risk; however, changes in serostatus need to be considered.

JCV serology in time: 3 years of follow-up

“…The latter is according to earlier data that have been published in our centre, although other literature did not show this association . In a recent publication of a Finnish cohort of patients with MS, it was also suggested that natalizumab might have a decreasing effect on the anti‐JCV antibody levels …”

“…The risk of seropositivity rises with increasing age and male gender . But several reports show that the annualized seroconversion rate in natalizumab‐treated patients with MS seems to be higher than expected, possibly due to a higher sensitivity caused by natalizumab usage …”

“…Patients with anti‐JCV antibodies in serum or plasma are at risk for developing PML. Although 33‐91% of the general population is positive for this virus, epidemiologic data in patients with MS show that about half of the patients seem to be positive for JCV antibodies …”

Prevalence of Anti-JC Virus Antibody Seropositivity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Egli et al [8] reported a prevalence of anti-JCV antibody in 58% of 400 healthy subjects (age 20–29 years) and 68% in older cases (50–59 years), which is in accordance with an Australian study finding [10]. In a Finnish study included in this systematic review, longer disease duration was not correlated with JCV seroprevalence, while they found that higher age and male gender were related to higher seroprevalence [15].…”

JCPyV microRNA in plasma inversely correlates with JCPyV seropositivity among long-term natalizumab-treated relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients

“…However, there has been no reduction in the NTZassociated PML incidence concomitant with the utilization of JCPyV serology (Cutter and Stuve 2014), and thus it seems insufficient to evaluate complete risk. Moreover, as 60-70% of the MS patients are JCPyV Ab positive, further tools are needed to narrow down high PML risk among patients receiving NTZ (Kolasa et al 2016;Olsson et al 2013). Previously evaluated tools based on leukocyte cell membrane markers such as CD11a, CD49d, and CD62L (Basnyat et al 2015;Jilek et al 2013;Schwab et al 2013), and quantification of JCPyV load in the blood or urine still lack applicability in a clinical setting (Chen et al 2009;Jilek et al 2010;Rudick et al 2010).…”