Course of neuropsychological impairment during natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an opportunistic infection of the central nervous system from the John Cunningham virus (JCV), is a side effect of natalizumab (NTZ) treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), potentially leading to a substantial increase of physical and mental disability. Nevertheless, data of neuropsychological impairment during the NTZ-PML disease course are missing. Our objective was to evaluate the neuropsychological disease course of NTZ-PML patients and to compare neuropsychological deficits of NTZ-PML patients with two different non-PML multiple sclerosis (MS) cohorts.

METHODS

Neuropsychological examinations of 28 NTZ-PML patients performed during different phases of the disease ([i] at PML diagnosis, [ii] during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome [IRIS], and [iii] post-IRIS/PML) were retrospectively analyzed and compared to those of NTZ-treated RRMS or secondary progressive MS patients with and without immunotherapy.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, NTZ-PML patients performed worse in neuropsychological examinations during all stages of disease, mainly affecting visuospatial ability and working memory. Furthermore, failure to eliminate the JCV from the central nervous system was associated with a progredient decline of cognition, especially working memory.

CONCLUSIONS

Working memory and visuospatial abilities are the core neuropsychological deficits of NTZ-PML patients in long-term follow-up. Our findings should be implemented in neurorehabilitation strategies.