Neurological Disorders

Alemtuzumab-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient

Abstract

José Vicente Hervás García*, Gisela Torres-Vicente, Cristina González-Mingot, Anna Gil-Sánchez, Lara Nogueras, Silvia Peralta, María José Solana and Luis Brieva

Introduction: Alemtuzumab produces a total depletion and posterior repopulation of T and B cells. Autoimmunity is an important adverse event of this drug. In recent years, other autoimmune diseases, different to thyroid, kidney and platelets alterations have been described.

Clinical Case: We present one case of alemtuzumab-treated multiple sclerosis patient who develops ulcerative colitis after two cycles of alemtuzumab.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, no cases have been published in the literature, which relate alemtuzumab with the development of ulcerative colitis. The different kinetics in B and T cells repopulations and the change in the gut microbiota induced by alemtuzumab or by changes in diet to prevent listeriosis, could increase the risk of developing this autoimmune phenomenon.