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What Are The Side Effects Of Tysabri?
Question: My son is 28 and recently diagnosed with MS his Dr wants to start him on Tysabri because his current MRI shows 11 lesions and he feels this is the strongest fastest acting drug for his aggressively advancing MS. I have researched all of the horrible side effect possibilities of this drug and it seems that there are other drugs available with less deadly possible side effects? My family has a history of autoimmune disorders and three members have died as a results of medication complications. I personally feel that it is to risky of a drug and want to know if something else would be a wiser choice?
Brief Answer:
There are a number of monoclonal antibodies that can be used
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I am sorry to know about your son. I have gone through the details of your concern. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which autoreactive T cells cross the blood-brain barrier and attack the myelin sheath leading to a cascade of inflammation. The result is demyelination, acute axonal transection, gliosis and subsequent axonal degeneration. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are potent new tools for a molecular targeted approach to modify the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Besides natalizumab, three other monoclonal antibodies viz alemtuzumab, rituximab and daclizumab have been used for treatment of MS. Anti-TNFα antibodies (infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) can also be used. You can discuss with your doctor about the feasibility of the use of these but I doubt that the adverse effect profile would not be quite different.
The following links might be useful for you:
http://www.yyyyy.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
http://www.yyyyyyyy.com/y/572411yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I understand your concerns but let me assure you that Tysabri (natalizumab) seems to be reasonably good with a favorable adverse effect profile and you might be overanxious about the use of this tool. Other choices might not be wiser.
Regards
There are a number of monoclonal antibodies that can be used
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I am sorry to know about your son. I have gone through the details of your concern. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which autoreactive T cells cross the blood-brain barrier and attack the myelin sheath leading to a cascade of inflammation. The result is demyelination, acute axonal transection, gliosis and subsequent axonal degeneration. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are potent new tools for a molecular targeted approach to modify the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Besides natalizumab, three other monoclonal antibodies viz alemtuzumab, rituximab and daclizumab have been used for treatment of MS. Anti-TNFα antibodies (infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol) can also be used. You can discuss with your doctor about the feasibility of the use of these but I doubt that the adverse effect profile would not be quite different.
The following links might be useful for you:
http://www.yyyyy.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
http://www.yyyyyyyy.com/y/572411yyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
I understand your concerns but let me assure you that Tysabri (natalizumab) seems to be reasonably good with a favorable adverse effect profile and you might be overanxious about the use of this tool. Other choices might not be wiser.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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