METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING, SELECTING AND INFORMING A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, USES OF A THERAPEUTIC AGENT, AN ANTIBODY BINDING TO CD52, OR AN ANTIGEN BINDING PORTION OF THE SAID ANTIBODY AND AN ANTIGONIST LIKE IL-21, GOOD TO DETECT THE SERUM IL-21 LEVEL IN A PATIENT, TO TREAT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND TO IDENTIFY A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

摘要

methods to identify, select and inform a patient with multiple sclerosis, uses of a therapeutic agent, an antibody that binds to cd52, or an antigen binding portion of said antibody and an il-21 antagonist, as well as kits to detect the level of serum il-21 in a patient, to treat multiple sclerosis and to identify a patient with multiple sclerosis the present invention relates to methods for diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis (ms), including methods for identifying patients with sclerosis who are at increased risk of developing a secondary autoimmune disease following lymphocyte depletion caused, for example, by treatment with an anti-cd52 antibody. Also included are methods for selecting treatment regimens for patients with MS, and reagents useful for the above methods.