Eraksoy, Mefkure Istanbul University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Agan, Kadriye Marmara University - Pendik Education and Research Hospital - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Ak, Fikri Numune Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Anlar, Omer Ataturk Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Balci, Belgin Petek Ataturk Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Boz, Cavit Karadeniz Technical University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Celik, Yahya Trakya University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Demirkaya, Seref Gulhane Military Medical Academy - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Efendi, Husnu Kocaeli University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Gedizlioglu, Muhtesem Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Gunal, Dilek Marmara University - Pendik Education and Research Hospital - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Gungor, Hulya Aydin Akdeniz University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Isik, Nihal Medeniyet University - Goztepe Training and Research Hospital - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Idiman, Egemen Dokuz Eylul University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Karabudak, Rana Hacettepe University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Kurne, Asli Hacettepe University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Neyal, Munife Gaziantep University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Ozakbas, Serkan Dokuz Eylul University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Ozbay, Ozgul Ekmekci Ege University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Ozcan, Cemal Inonu University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Oztekin, Nese Subutay Numune Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Ozturk, Musa Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Saip, Sabahatin Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Siva, Aksel Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Soysal, Aysun Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Taskapilioglu, Ozlem Ege University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Terzi, Murat Ondokuz Mayis University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Turan, Omer Faruk Uludag University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Turkoglu, Recai Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Yucemen, Nezih Ankara Üniversitesi - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Yucesan, Canan Ankara Üniversitesi - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Yuceyar, Ayse Nur Ege University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurology, Turkey , Zorlu, Yasar Tepecik Training and Research Hospital - Neurology Clinic, Turkey , Ulku, Cunay Medical Department, Turkey , Dib, Huseyin Medical Department, Turkey , Uren, Deniz Medical Department, Turkey

Anti-John Cunningham Virus antibody prevalence in multiple sclerosis patients in Turkey

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Exposure to John Cunningham Virus (JCV) has been associated with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients under specific treatments. In order to assess the identifiable risks of Turkish relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients, the seroprevalence rate of JCV antibodies was investigated and compared with demographic and therapy related factors. Serum samples were collected from 308 RRMS patients at 24 centers, and tested by STRATIFY JCV assay for the presence of anti-JCV antibodies. Also, demographic, disease and treatment data were collected at the same time and were used for analysis of associations with seropositivity. The prevalence of anti-JCV antibodies was observed to be 68.2%, which is higher than most countries. There was a trend in terms of higher seroprevalence of antibodies in older patients, and male patients. There was no association with previous natalizumab use, but there was a significantly higher seroprevalence in patients who used immunosuppressant therapies (p 0.05). JCV prevalence rate is observed to be high in Turkish MS patients, therefore it would be beneficial to use this marker as a risk stratification tool in clinical decision making. Mefkure Eraksoy has received honoraria for advisory boards and lectures/congress support from Biogen/Idec, Bayer HealthCare, Novartis, Merck and Teva.Huseyin Dib, Cunay Ulku and Deniz Uren are employees of Gen Pharmaceuticals.This study was funded by Biogen Idec and Gen Pharmaceuticals, Turkey.

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John Cunningham Virus , Multiple Sclerosis , Natalizumab , Turkey

Journal Of Experimental an‎d Clinical Medicine

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