Natalizumab (Tysabri) Reduces Brain Atrophy, Improves Cognition During Second Year of Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
MADRID, SPAIN -- September 30, 2006 -- Natalizumab (Tysabri) significantly reduces brain atrophy compared with placebo treatment during the second year of treatment and significantly improves cognitive function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers reported here at the 22nd Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIM).
"We saw that natalizumab was, indeed, effective in reducing the rate of brain atrophy in the second year of treatment, and this is especially important because in the brain of an MS patient, brain atrophy correlates to reduced cognitive function," said presenting investigator Elizabeth Fisher, PhD, assistant professor, department of biomedical engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.....
The investigators also found that natalizumab treatment significantly reduced the proportion of patients with worsening in 3-second Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test score compared with placebo. They observed a positive correlation between change in BPF and time to sustained worsening of cognitive function over 2 years among placebo subjects. They saw no such correlation among natalizumab subjects.
In addition, the AFFIRM investigators also reported that there were 92% fewer gadolinium-enhancing lesions and 83% fewer new or enlarging T2-hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in the natalizumab group compared with placebo.....
[Presentation title: The Effects of Natalizumab on Brain Atrophy and Cognitive Function: Results From the AFFIRM Study. Abstract P383]