Co-occurrence of two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a natalizumab “infusion group”

Abstract

We observed two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that occurred in the same “infusion group”. The group consisted of four patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who had been treated with natalizumab (NAT) in the same medical practice for more than four years at the same times and in the same room, raising concerns about viral transmission between members of the infusion group.

DNA amplification and sequence comparison of the non-coding control region (NCCR) of JC virus (JCV) present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from PML patients #1 and #2 revealed that the amplified JCV sequences differed from the JCV archetype. The NCRR of the viral DNA was unique to each patient, arguing against the possibility of viral transmission between patients. Statistical considerations predict that similar co-occurrences of PML are likely to happen in the future.

Keywords

Natalizumab multiple sclerosis progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy PML JC virus

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