In a message dated 1/2/07 5:44:24 PM Pacific Standard Time, xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.net writes:
3 persons in the Tysabri trials developed PML, no one 'got' it. PML is caused by the JC Virus being activated into the bloodstream, as the JC Virus lies dormant in the kidneys of 70-80% of the population, MS or not.... 2 of the trial patients developed PML in the Sentinal trials (combo therapy of Avonex with Tysabri), and the 3rd patient was a Crohn's patient with a severely compromised immune system due to being on Azathoprine (Imuran) for 6 years... he was in the monotherapy Crohn's trial. See the New England Journal of Medicine: NEJM -- Medline Abstract re: PML , specifically: "...progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but deadly viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS) [is] associated with immunosuppression. Owing to the effect of natalizumab on central nervous system leukocyte recruitment, the emergence of PML has been attributed to diminished immunosurveillance. The lack of additional opportunistic or CNS infections among natalizumab-treated patients, however, suggests that alternate mechanisms may contribute to the infectious risk."
By the way, not one single confirmed MS patient with a non-compromised immune system that received Tysabri as a monotherapy in the trials (approx 3,000) and in the general population from 11/04 through 2/28/05 (approx 5,000) ever developed PML and died...that's ZERO patients listed above or a risk factor of 0:8000 and that's not even counting those in the resumed March '06 trials and the general population after 6/5/06 !
Thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Lauren
A very proud member of:
www.MSPatientsForChoice.org
Regarding those who got the PML virus, did they get it taking only Tysabri or was it in combination with Avonex or any other drug?
3 persons in the Tysabri trials developed PML, no one 'got' it. PML is caused by the JC Virus being activated into the bloodstream, as the JC Virus lies dormant in the kidneys of 70-80% of the population, MS or not.... 2 of the trial patients developed PML in the Sentinal trials (combo therapy of Avonex with Tysabri), and the 3rd patient was a Crohn's patient with a severely compromised immune system due to being on Azathoprine (Imuran) for 6 years... he was in the monotherapy Crohn's trial. See the New England Journal of Medicine: NEJM -- Medline Abstract re: PML , specifically: "...progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but deadly viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS) [is] associated with immunosuppression. Owing to the effect of natalizumab on central nervous system leukocyte recruitment, the emergence of PML has been attributed to diminished immunosurveillance. The lack of additional opportunistic or CNS infections among natalizumab-treated patients, however, suggests that alternate mechanisms may contribute to the infectious risk."
By the way, not one single confirmed MS patient with a non-compromised immune system that received Tysabri as a monotherapy in the trials (approx 3,000) and in the general population from 11/04 through 2/28/05 (approx 5,000) ever developed PML and died...that's ZERO patients listed above or a risk factor of 0:8000 and that's not even counting those in the resumed March '06 trials and the general population after 6/5/06 !
Thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Lauren
A very proud member of:
www.MSPatientsForChoice.org
posted by Bill at 10:37 PM
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