Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient Treated with Natalizumab

Neurol India. 2021 Mar-Apr;69(2):495-496. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.314544.

Abstract

Natalizumab is a disease-modifying drug that has proved greatly effective and well-tolerated in highly-active Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, it may increase the risk for opportunistic infections, such as viral ones. We describe a 37-year-old woman treated with Natalizumab for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RR-MS) who presented to our clinic with malaise, arthromyalgias, rash, and fever. She later developed diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. A diagnosis of parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection and acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) was eventually made. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of AAC possibly related to Natalizumab therapy and B19V infection.

Keywords: Acalculous cholecystitis; immunosuppression; multiple sclerosis; natalizumab; parvovirus B19.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acalculous Cholecystitis* / chemically induced
  • Acalculous Cholecystitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Adult
  • Cholecystitis, Acute*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis* / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis* / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting* / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting* / drug therapy
  • Natalizumab / adverse effects

Substances

  • Natalizumab