0000000000757242
AUTHOR
M Rezzonico
No evidence of beneficial effects of plasmapheresis in natalizumab-associated PML
Objective:To examine retrospectively the effects of plasmapheresis (PLEX) on the survival and clinical outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and natalizumab (NTZ)–associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).Methods:The medical literature was searched for the terms natalizumab and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A total of 193 international and 34 Italian NTZ-PML cases were included. Clinical outcome was determined by comparing the patients' clinical status at PML diagnosis with status after PML resolution. The effects on survival and clinical outcome of PLEX, sex, age, country, pre-PML Expanded Disability Status Scale score, NTZ infusion number, prior…
The Italian multiple sclerosis register
The past decade has seen extraordinary increase in worldwide availability of and access to several large multiple sclerosis (MS) databases and registries. MS registries represent powerful tools to provide meaningful information on the burden, natural history, and long-term safety and effectiveness of treatments. Moreover, patients, physicians, industry, and policy makers have an active interest in real-world observational studies based on register data, as they have the potential to answer the questions that are most relevant to daily treatment decision-making. In 2014, the Italian MS Foundation, in collaboration with the Italian MS clinical centers, promoted and funded the creation of the …