Contributions
Abstract: EP1684
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 28 Long-term treatment monitoring
Objectives: Erythroblastaemia has been previously reported as a frequent finding of natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis patients. Its long-term clinical or pathological implications are still to be understood. We investigated the persistence of erythroblastaemia after natalizumab suspension.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated the blood samples of 15 subjects with erythroblastaemia during natalizumab and who were withdrawn from treatment.
Results: All our patients had been treated with more than 12 natalizumab infusions and they suspended the treatment due to evidence of antiJCV antibodies. Erythroblastaemia was present in all cases at the last blood sample before the last drug administration. Erythroblasts were absent in all blood samples of our patients after a mean time of 2.8 months (range 1-4 months) after drug suspension.
Discussion and conclusions: The prevalence of erythroblastaemia has been previously reported to be significantly higher in patients treated with natalizumab compared to patients on other multiple sclerosis treatments. These previous data raised some issues on long term pathological implications. Our last findings support the hypothesis of erythroblastaemia as a transient phenomenon during natalizumab treatment: it appears then acceptable to refrain from further diagnostic procedures during treatment in the absence of any other laboratory results suggesting underlying disorders. A larger sample of patients is needed to confirm our data.
Disclosure:
La Gioia Sara: nothing to disclose
Barcella Valeria: nothing to disclose
Conti Marta Zaffira: nothing to disclose
Frigeni Barbara: nothing to disclose
Vedovello Marcella: nothing to disclose
Zanchi Clara: nothing to disclose
Rottoli Mariarosa: nothing to disclose
Abstract: EP1684
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 28 Long-term treatment monitoring
Objectives: Erythroblastaemia has been previously reported as a frequent finding of natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis patients. Its long-term clinical or pathological implications are still to be understood. We investigated the persistence of erythroblastaemia after natalizumab suspension.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated the blood samples of 15 subjects with erythroblastaemia during natalizumab and who were withdrawn from treatment.
Results: All our patients had been treated with more than 12 natalizumab infusions and they suspended the treatment due to evidence of antiJCV antibodies. Erythroblastaemia was present in all cases at the last blood sample before the last drug administration. Erythroblasts were absent in all blood samples of our patients after a mean time of 2.8 months (range 1-4 months) after drug suspension.
Discussion and conclusions: The prevalence of erythroblastaemia has been previously reported to be significantly higher in patients treated with natalizumab compared to patients on other multiple sclerosis treatments. These previous data raised some issues on long term pathological implications. Our last findings support the hypothesis of erythroblastaemia as a transient phenomenon during natalizumab treatment: it appears then acceptable to refrain from further diagnostic procedures during treatment in the absence of any other laboratory results suggesting underlying disorders. A larger sample of patients is needed to confirm our data.
Disclosure:
La Gioia Sara: nothing to disclose
Barcella Valeria: nothing to disclose
Conti Marta Zaffira: nothing to disclose
Frigeni Barbara: nothing to disclose
Vedovello Marcella: nothing to disclose
Zanchi Clara: nothing to disclose
Rottoli Mariarosa: nothing to disclose