Hi l am newly diagnosed and start Tysabri in a month, l am worried about how it suppresses the immune system, should l avoid contact with people and crowded places incase a catch the flu, could it be serious if l catch the flu or some minor thing like that, do they give you antibiotics or something to prevent infections
Tysabri interferes with the immune surveillance that otherwise protects those previously infected with the very common JCV virus from developing a dangerous brain infection called PML. That is why we get tested regularly and have regular MRI scans to image our brains. I am not aware of it suppressing immune response more generally. I have been on it for 15 years and it has been a wonder drug for me. I hope you find the same.
thnaks yes l was told about PML, l think its only about 1 in 10,000 risk, but with you immune system supressed do you find you get things like the flu and infections more often and are they worse then normal
I have to say that I noticed no increase in common and garden variety infections for many years and took no extra precautions. Last couple of years has been more problematic, but I’m around a nursery-aged child more than I used to be and I think that’s the trouble, not the Tysabri. 