Predicting autoimmunity in patients treated with alemtuzumab

The use of alemtuzumab in highly active MS has been limited by adverse events (AEs) in the form of secondary autoimmune disorders, especially involving the thyroid gland. A low percentage of blood circulating CD19+ B cells –cut-off value 7.6%– before starting alemtuzumab treatment may predict a lower risk of autoimmune AEs [1]. A multicentre, prospective, longitudinal study evaluated whether patients’ blood lymphocyte profile before the initiation of alemtuzumab treatment may help predict the development of later autoimmunity. The Spanish study included 54 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (34 female), with a median age of 35 years and a median follow-up of 2.8 years. Of these, 14 patients (25.9%) experienced autoimmune AEs, in all cases dysthyroidism. No immune thrombocytopenia or nephropathies were observed. There were no significant differences in clinical and demographic baseline characteristics (e.g. EDSS) in patients who developed autoimm...

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Posted on 25 November, 2020