Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath) is a DMT to treat highly active MS and has long-lasting effects and potential severe side effects.

You can read the full article on my blog: https://ms-perspektive.com/076-alemtuzumab

This time the focus is on alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath). It is one of the highly effective immunotherapies and, in a subgroup of patients with highly active MS, even enables disease activity to be halted for more than five years. Due to its long-lasting effects on the immune system and sometimes severe side effects, it is used relatively sparingly.

It is used as a disease-modifying therapy for active multiple sclerosis, both in relapsing forms and, following FDA approval, also in active SPMS.

Due to its mechanism of action, alemtuzumab leads to immediate immune cell depletion of CD52-positive immune cells (primarily T cells and B cells). It is therefore used, for example, in patients with massive inflammatory activity who are at risk of a rapid increase in disability.

Please remember that I can only provide an overview here. Your neurologist and your MS nurse should advise you in detail about the right therapy for you. This is because they know your general state of health and you should also talk about your goals, wishes, fears and preferences so that these can be taken into account.

Table of Contents

• General Information
• How is Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath) classified in immunotherapies?
• What is Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath) approved for?
• What is the situation for special patient groups?
• Who should avoid alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath)?
• How does alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath) work?
• How is it taken?
• How effective is alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath)?
• Risks and side effects of alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath)
• Vaccinations
• Sources
• Final note

Sources

I used the following sources to create the content:

• Quality manual of the German KKNMS on alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Campath)
• MS-Selfie Infocards by Prof. Dr. Gavin Giovannoni 
• German Multiple Sclerosis and Fertility Registry (DMSKW) 
• German DECIMS information on alemtuzumab

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You may also want to look at the posts on the other DMTs:

• #061: Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) and diroximel fumarate (Vumerity)
• #065: Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Brabio)
• #068: Interferon-beta (Avonex, Betaferon, Extavia, Plegridy, Rebif)
• #070: Teriflunomide (Aubagio)
• #072: Natalizumab (Tysabri, Tyruko) for active relapsing remitting MS
• #074: S1P Modulators – Fingolimod (Gilenya), Ozanimod (Zeposia), Ponesimod (Ponvory), Siponimod (Mayzent) for active RRMS & SPMS

See you soon and try to make the best out of your life, Nele

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