Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39673046›Full record

SynthesisNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2025

Effects of natalizumab on oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Andreas Liampas, Vasilis-Spyridon Tseriotis, Theodoros Mavridis, George D Vavougios, Panagiotis Zis, Georgios M Hadjigeorgiou, Panagiotis Bargiotas, Chryssa Pourzitaki, Artemios Artemiadis

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Andreas LiampasDepartment of Neurology, Nicosia General Hospital, Nicosia Limassol Old Road 215, P.C. 2029, Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus. liampasand@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9572-2369
Vasilis-Spyridon Tseriotis"Agios Pavlos" General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 161 Ethnikis Antistaseos Leof., P.C. 55134, 12 Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Theodoros MavridisDepartment of Neurology, Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)/The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, D24 NR0A, Ireland.
George D VavougiosMedical School, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Street, P.C. 1678, 10 Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Panagiotis ZisMedical School, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Street, P.C. 1678, 10 Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Georgios M HadjigeorgiouMedical School, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Street, P.C. 1678, 10 Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Panagiotis BargiotasMedical School, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Street, P.C. 1678, 10 Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Chryssa PourzitakiLaboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.C. 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Artemios ArtemiadisMedical School, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Street, P.C. 1678, 10 Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOligoclonal bands (OCBs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are utilized for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS), as they are found in 95% of patients. Additionally, OCBs are linked to disease prognosis. The primary contributors to OCB production are long-lived plasma cells. This study aims to quantify the impact of natalizumab (NTZ) on OCB levels in the CSF of MS patients.

methodsA systematic search on MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Web of Science for English-written and peer-reviewed longitudinal studies on adults was performed. Methodological quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Proportional meta-analysis was performed in R using a generalized linear mixed-effects model. We investigated heterogeneity with influence diagnostics, sensitivity analysis and meta-regression.

resultsEight eligible studies of adequate quality with a total sample of 326 relapsing-remitting MS patients were included. A summary rate of 14.07% [95% CI, 4.48%-36.36%] for complete loss of OCBs and 42.02% [95% CI, 15.23%-74.51%] for reduction in OCB number or intensity was observed, both with considerable heterogeneity. Pooled estimates dropped (11% [95% CI, 0.04%-0.29%] and 34% [95% CI, 0.11%-0.68%] respectively) after the identification of an influential study. Multivariable meta-regression identified IgG index as a factor contributing to heterogeneity (adj. p = 0.0279), regarding reduction of OCB number or intensity. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, our systematic review and meta-analysis showed that NTZ can lead to reduction of intrathecal OCBs in MS patients, indicating a possible effect of NTZ on memory plasma cells, which are the main source of OCBs in MS.

Indexed as

Immunologic FactorsMultiple SclerosisNatalizumabOligoclonal BandsHumansImmunologic FactorsNatalizumabOligoclonal BandsIgG indexMultiple SclerosisNatalizumabOligoclonal bands

Identifiers

PMID39673046

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.