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Multiple sclerosis

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy risk stratification

A compelling need exists for a more reliable risk evaluation of natalizumab- associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). A new report proposes a refined protocol that uses updated patient-based data and cumulative risk evaluation to provide an improved assessment of the annual risk of PML for patients positive for JC virus.

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Correspondence to Ralf Gold.

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Competing interests

K.P. received speaker honoraria and travel funding from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec and Novartis. R.G. serves on scientific advisory boards for Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec, Novartis and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd; has received speaker honoraria from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec, Novartis and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd; serves as editor for Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders and on the editorial boards of Experimental Neurology and the Journal of Neuroimmunology; and receives research support from Bayer Schering Pharma, Biogen Idec, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, none related to this manuscript.

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Pitarokoili, K., Gold, R. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy risk stratification. Nat Rev Neurol 13, 710–712 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.161

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