At the Hospital de Clínicas, treatment was started by subcutaneous injection, using the drug Satralizumab, a monoclonal antibody that is applied specifically for a serious disease that causes disability called neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
The neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder disease that causes damage to the optic nervein the brain and spinal cord, explained Dr. Martha Sady Galeano, head of the Department of Adult Neurology.
The Satralizumab, is a drug that attacks interleukin-6 (IL-6), key in the inflammatory process of this disease.
In this regard, he said that said drug began to be used since 2021 in the United States and in the Department of Neurology it begins to be used in patients with diagnosis of Neuromyelitis Optica, considering that you have a group. Generally, the patient is given the dosage of an antibody, which is aquaporin.
“The neuromyelitis optica, pathology that is characterized because it produces a destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerves and in this way produces lesions that are cumulative, in the sense that they occur due to crises and that can be unilateral blindness, generally bilateral, quadriparesis or paralysis of the four limbs, give balance disorder; in other words, it has several forms of presentation, it is very serious, so this medication reduces the crises”, highlighted the head of neurology.
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The doctor indicated that a international research indicates that 76% of the population treated with medication had no relapse at 48 weeks; 72% were free at 96 weeks, compared to placebo. As for the relapses that usually occur in this disease and that are very frequent, they had an improvement of 76.5%, a very important fact.
“So we hope that our 49-year-old patient, who started treatment, will benefit. This disease, Neuromyelitis Optica is truly catastrophic. Seizures are greatly diminished with this drug, research shows,” he noted.
The monoclonal antibodies They are being widely used in various diseases, especially those of immunological origin, and in neurology, monoclonals are at the forefront. Access to medicine is given thanks to the agreement that the Faculty of Medical Sciences has with the Ministry of Health that provides it.
Application scheme.
The beginning is counted as day zero, where the first ampoule of medication is applied.
The second blister will be injected at two weeks, and the third at the fourth week. Then one ampoule per month and the reaction that the patient might have during the course of treatment is controlled.
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The application of the medication was carried out at the Day Hospital of the Department of Neurology of the Hospital de Clínicas of the FCMUNA and specialists and residents of the area participated.
