Natalizumab consent

I conducted a telephone consultation with Mrs XXX today in order to consent her to start treatment with Natalizumab as a disease modifying therapy for relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis.

I explained that the benefits include:


 * 1) Decrease of MS relapse rate
 * 2) Decrease of MS disability progression
 * 3) Decrease of accumulation of new scars in the brain and spinal cord seen on MRI

I explained that the potential side effects/risks include:


 * 1) Infusion related reactions/ allergic reactions
 * 2) Increased tendency to infections, such as chest or urinary tract infections
 * 3) Haematological and liver abnormalities detected on blood tests
 * 4) Risk of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy due to JC virus. The risk is 1 in 10,000 if she is JC virus negative and about 1 in 1,400 if JC virus positive in the first 2 years and subsequently the risk can increase to about 1 in 200.