Document Detail


Central nervous system infections - a potential complication of systemic immunotherapy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16702834     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, characterized by demyelination and axonal damage. With the emergence of more efficient immune therapies, severe sometimes even fatal central nervous system infections were observed. This review will address the role of the systemic immune system in central nervous system immune surveillance and discuss implications for the development of novel immunotherapies in multiple sclerosis.
RECENT FINDINGS: In the last decade, a number of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents have been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, based on the results of double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease has prompted exploration of the therapeutic utility of new drugs that more potently disrupt the pathophysiological cascade of events that culminates in central nervous system tissue damage. One potential side-effect of these newer therapies is their interference with the control of central nervous system infections by the immune system.
SUMMARY: Any increase in potency of multiple sclerosis therapies could well interfere with protective immunosurveillance of the central nervous system. One possible outcome is an increased incidence of opportunistic infections. A heightened vigilance for central nervous system infections in the setting of immunosuppression is necessary to prevent serious side-effects in the future.
Authors:
Bernhard Hemmer; Eiliot Frohman; Hans Peter Hartung; Olaf Stüve
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current opinion in neurology     Volume:  19     ISSN:  1350-7540     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr. Opin. Neurol.     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-05-16     Completed Date:  2007-01-09     Revised Date:  2013-01-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9319162     Medline TA:  Curr Opin Neurol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  271-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany USA. bernhard.hemmer@uni-duesseldorf/de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Central Nervous System / immunology
Central Nervous System Infections / etiology*,  immunology
Humans
Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
Immunotherapy / adverse effects*
Multiple Sclerosis* / drug therapy,  immunology,  pathology
Opportunistic Infections / etiology,  immunology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Immunologic Factors; 0/Immunosuppressive Agents

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