Abstract
JC virus (JCV) is an opportunistic virus known to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Anti-JC virus (Anti-JCV) antibody prevalence in a large, geographically diverse, multi-national multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort was compared in a cross-sectional study. Overall, anti-JCV antibody prevalence was 57.6%. Anti-JCV antibody prevalence in MS patients ranged from approximately 47% to 68% across these countries: Norway, 47.4%; Denmark, 52.6%; Israel, 56.6%; France, 57.6%; Italy, 58.3%; Sweden, 59.0%; Germany, 59.1%; Austria, 66.7% and Turkey, 67.7%. Prevalence increased with age (from 49.5% in patients <30 years of age to 66.5% in patients ≥ 60 years of age; p <0.0001 comparing all age categories), was lower in females than in males (55.8% versus 61.9%; p <0.0001) and was not affected by prior immunosuppressant or natalizumab use.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1533-1538 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Multiple Sclerosis Journal |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- anti-JCV antibodies
- antibody prevalence
- brain infection
- epidemiology
- immunosuppressant therapy
- infection risk
- international study
- JC virus
- Multiple sclerosis
- natalizumab
- STRATIFY-JCV
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology