Rare Side Effects Reported with Lecanemab in Real-world Alzheimer's Treatment
In the realm of healthcare advancements, lecanemab, a medication introduced in 2023, marked a significant milestone as the first FDA-approved treatment for Alzheimer's disease. However, like any drug, it comes with potential side effects, one of the most serious being amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), such as brain swelling or bleeding.
Although the Clarity AD phase 3 clinical trial in 2022 recorded minimal percentages of participants experiencing ARIA, a recent study verifies these findings, indicating that ARIA incidents were rare and manageable when lecanemab was used in individuals with early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
In the study conducted at Washington University Memory Diagnostic Center, researchers reported that 1.8% of participants in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease showed signs of ARIA, significantly lower than the 27% found among participants with mild Alzheimer's disease.
Similar to the clinical trial, the effects of ARIA symptoms in the real-world study mostly subsided within a few months, and no deaths were reported. This information serves as a reassuring sign that lecanemab can be safely administered to patients under specific circumstances.
Researchers, co-senior author Barbara Joy Snider included, believe that early diagnosis plays a pivotal role in maximizing the benefits of lecanemab and minimizing side effects. They emphasize the need for continuous efforts to make early Alzheimer's diagnosis more accessible, particularly for those with very mild symptoms.
Furthermore, the study brings forth the importance of identifying patients at increased risk for ARIA, which, in turn, may aid in offering more informed treatment recommendations. For instance, the question of whether lecanemab or donanemab would be a better option for a patient could be better addressed with this insight.
Additional research on both a larger patient sample and observation time is required for a more comprehensive understanding of ARIA occurrence and possible interventions. Debates remain regarding the acceptable risk-to-benefit ratio for lecanemab and overall management in clinical practice.
In a nutshell, lecanemab has proved effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease while its side effects can be managed. As with any treatment, careful consideration and ongoing monitoring are crucial in ensuring patients receive the best possible care.
- Lecanemab, approved in 2023 for Alzheimer's disease, has a potential side effect of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), such as brain swelling or bleeding.
- A recent study at Washington University Memory Diagnostic Center reported that ARIA incidents were rare and manageable when using lecanemab in individuals with early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
- Researchers believe that early diagnosis plays a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of lecanemab and minimizing side effects, emphasizing the importance of making early Alzheimer's diagnosis more accessible.
- Due to the rare occurrence of ARIA, identifying patients at increased risk for these side effects could help offer more informed treatment recommendations, potentially clarifying whether lecanemab or donanemab would be a better option for a patient.
- Ongoing research is necessary to understand ARIA occurrence more thoroughly, including a larger patient sample and extended observation time, as debates remain about the acceptable risk-to-benefit ratio for lecanemab and overall management in clinical practice.
