Biomedical subjects

Joël Oger

Publications and source records attributed to Joël Oger.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Neutralizing antibodies to interferon beta in multiple sclerosis: analytical evaluation for validation of a cytopathic effect assay.

BACKGROUND: Recent guidelines have recommended the use of validated assays for the measurement of neutralizing antibodies (NABs) to interferon beta (IFNbeta) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In an attempt of validation, we studied the analytical performance of a bioassay based on antiviral cytopathic effect (CPE) using WISH cells and the vesicular stomatitis virus (WISH/VSV CPE). METHODS: NAB titres measured with the WISH/VSV CPE assay in 63 sera from IFNbeta-treated MS patients were compared to those obtained with the reference CPE method using A549 cells and the encephalomyocarditis virus. Binding antibodies (BABs) were measured using a capture ELISA as a screening test for NABs. RESULTS: No false-negative BAB was obtained in our patients. The between-run coefficients of variation (CVs) determined with log10 titres of the NIH anti-IFNbeta (G038-501-572) yielded good results (<or=10.4%) and within-run variability was excellent (CV<or=2%). The log10 titres obtained with both CPE assays were highly correlated (r=0.969 and r=0.884 for anti-IFNbeta-1a and anti-IFNbeta-1b, respectively). The same patients were found NAB-positive with both CPE assays. CONCLUSION: Because of its good precision, sensitivity and excellent correlation with the reference CPE method, the WISH/VSV CPE bioassay can be used in the follow-up of IFNbeta-treated MS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

MRI contributes to the differentiation between MS and HTLV-I associated myelopathy in British Columbian coastal natives.

BACKGROUND: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in British Columbian Coastal Natives has, to date, been a clinical and laboratory diagnosis. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities have been well-described in other populations in which HAM/TSP is endemic. METHODS: In order to assess the usefulness of MRI as a diagnostic tool in this population, we compared scans of HAM/TSP patients with those of HTLV-I positive non-HAM/TSP British Columbian Coastal Natives (carriers) and multiple sclerosis patients presenting with progressive paraparesis. RESULTS: The typical nonspecific findings of thoracic cord atrophy and increased signal in the periventricular and subcortical white matter on T2-weighted images were confirmed in the HAM/TSP patients. Despite a lack of specificity of the MRI findings between HAM/TSP patients and HTLV-I carriers, criteria that could effectively differentiate HAM/TSP patients from multiple sclerosis patients with similar clinical presentations were determined. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiological correlations suggest that longitudinal MRI investigations charting the course of HAM/TSP may reveal the clinical significance of these lesions and further define the role of MRI in the diagnosis of this entity. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important supplement to immunological and clinical data in differentiating multiple sclerosis from HAM/TSP.

Brain↗