RESUMO
Retrospective studies show that natalizumab modifies oligoclonal immunoglobulin (IgG) bands (OCBs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In this study, we prospectively analyzed both serum and CSF samples from 24 MS patients, before and after 2 years of natalizumab-based therapy. Our results showed complete (55%) or partial (27%) disappearance of the OCBs in CSF samples that were taken after 2 years of therapy. Intrathecal IgG production, represented by the IgG index and IgGLoc, was also quantitatively reduced. Our data showed that natalizumab substantially modulates both intrathecal polyclonal and oligoclonal IgG production: This effect was much more potent than was previously reported.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/uso terapêutico , Imunoglobulina G/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Esclerose Múltipla/tratamento farmacológico , Bandas Oligoclonais/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Adulto , Encéfalo/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Esclerose Múltipla/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Esclerose Múltipla/patologia , Natalizumab , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV-8) infection routes and risk of occupational exposure are still ill-defined. We analysed the risk for occupational acquisition of KSHV infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) with prolonged professional exposure to patients with classic KS, comparing the results to those obtained in healthy relatives of KS patients. Serum and/or saliva KSHV-specific antibodies and DNA were detected in five out of 35 healthy relatives of KS patients but in none of the eight HCWs, suggesting that, outside strict family contacts, horizontal transmission of KSHV is highly inefficient even for HCWs with prolonged contact with KS patients.
