Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42449395›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2026

Real-world safety and implementation challenges of lecanemab therapy for Alzheimer's disease in South Korea: a single-center experience.

Hyemin Jang, Jae Woo Kim, Jung Won Hwang, Da Woon Jeong, Jeongeun Ka, Da Min Kang, Chong Hyun Suh, Yangsean Choi, Minyoung Oh, Jae Seung Kim and 2 more

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Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hyemin JangDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jae Woo KimDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jung Won HwangDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Da Woon JeongDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jeongeun KaDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Da Min KangDegree Course in Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Chong Hyun SuhDepartment of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Yangsean ChoiDepartment of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Minyoung OhDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jae Seung KimDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jae-Sung LimDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. jaesunglim@amc.seoul.kr.
Jae-Hong LeeDepartment of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Funding

Asan Institute for Life Sciences 2022-IF-0022Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare and Ministry of science and ICT, Republic of Korea RS-2022-KH125667
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLecanemab, an amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibody, was recently approved for early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease in South Korea. Asians were underrepresented in prior trials, and real-world data from Korea remain scarce, particularly regarding treatment settings, adverse events, and barriers to scalability. We assessed the feasibility and safety of lecanemab among Korean patients in a real-world tertiary hospital.

methodsA total of 112 patients initiated lecanemab treatment between December 2024 and October 2025 at Asan Medical Center. Prevalence of infusion-related reactions (IRRs), Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA), treatment discontinuation, and factors limiting implementation were evaluated.

resultsAmong 112 patients (mean age 71 years; 59% female), IRRs occurred in 41 (37%) and were generally mild or moderate under active surveillance. Among 105 at-risk patients who received at least four infusions and had at least one monitoring MRI, ARIA developed in 20 (19%): ARIA-E/H in 6 (5.7%) and isolated ARIA-H in 14 (13.3%). Only 1 patient with isolated ARIA-H presented with transient confusion. Patients with ARIA-E/H were younger, whereas those with ARIA-H were older and more likely to have baseline microhemorrhages. Eleven out of 105 were APOE ε4/ε4 homozygotes, of whom 5 developed ARIA. The rapid increase in treatment demand exceeded outpatient infusion capacity, resulting in progressively longer waiting times-up to 20 weeks 9 months after program initiation.

conclusionThis single-center experience from a tertiary referral hospital in Korea demonstrates that lecanemab treatment was feasible and generally well-tolerated, with manageable adverse events including ARIA and IRRs; however, limited infusion capacity, lack of reimbursement, and patient concentration in tertiary centers highlight the need for referral networks and system-level strategies to improve nationwide accessibility.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAlzheimer’s DiseaseFeasibilityLecanemabReal-world experienceSafety

Identifiers

PMID42449395

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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.