Lecanemab side effects appear infrequent in real-world usage
Approved to treat Alzheimer's disease in 2023, the drug lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi, comes with potential side effects like headaches, dizziness, muscle aches, and blurred vision, as well as serious issues such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), characterized by swelling or bleeding in the brain.
In the Clarity AD phase 3 clinical trial published in 2022, only 0.8% of participants dealt with ARIA-E (edema/effusion), and 0.7% showed signs of ARIA-H (hemorrhage/hemosiderin deposition). A new study reaffirms these findings, reporting that significant adverse events related to ARIA were rare and manageable in real-world use of lecanemab among people in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.
As part of this new study, researchers enrolled 234 individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, approximately 74 years old, and treated them at an outpatient specialty memory clinic. Ol' Doc Lecanemab, a specialized protein made by the immune system and altered to specifically target certain amyloid proteins causing Alzheimer's, serves as the primary medication for this study.
Much like other medications, lecanemab has its downsides, and a notable one is ARIA. This side effect is mainly manifested through swelling or bleeding in the brain. As mentioned earlier, the Clarity AD trial highlighted that only around 0.8% of participants experienced ARIA-E and 0.7% ARIA-H.
Study results published recently indicate that adverse events related to ARIA are scarcely seen in "real-world" lecanemab treatment for Alzheimer's disease patients with very mild or mild symptoms. This research corroborates the Clinical AD findings, emphasizing that such side effects are indeed rare and actionable.
What the heck is lecanemab?
Just so we're all on the same page, lecanemab is an antibody - a specific protein produced by the immune system to protect the body from foreign pathogens - designed to target certain forms of amyloid proteins. These proteins can malfunction and accumulate in the brain, contributing to Alzheimer's disease development.
Lecanemab and the evil amyloid proteins
Barbara Joy Snider, MD, PhD, a neurology professor at Washington University School of Medicine, clarified lecanemab's role in tackling amyloid proteins:
In short words, lecanemab works to target and minimize amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. According to Snider, participants in a major clinical trial who received lecanemab treatment over 18 months demonstrated around 25-30% less memory and cognitive decline compared to those not given the medication.
Briefly touching on ARIA symptoms
While pondering over the results of the latest study, researchers noted that 1.8% of individuals in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease experienced ARIA symptoms. In contrast, 27% of participants with mild Alzheimer's disease showed signs of ARIA. This finding underscores the importance of early diagnosis when treating early Alzheimer's patients with medications like lecanemab, providing better results with fewer side effects.
Snider and her team further observed that 11 participants who experienced ARIA symptoms in this study mostly exhibited disappearing effects within a few months, and no patients met their maker.
The researchers expressed their intention to continuously track their patients to learn more about the side effects of these medications and the rate of memory loss decline. They plan to share their findings with fellow providers and stay excited for future Alzheimer's disease treatment advancements.
What's next? More research on increased ARIA risk
Medical News Today engaged with fellow neurologist John Dickson, MD, PhD, regarding this study's findings. Dickson mentioned that while ARIA occurs in patients treated with lecanemab, it has been manageable in specialty treatment programs. Nevertheless, the risk of ARIA is frequently a significant consideration for eligible patients deciding on whether to pursue amyloid-targeting therapy or not.
More research is needed to identify patients at increased risk for ARIA, particularly those with severe symptoms requiring stricter medical attention. Such research can guide physicians in making customized treatment choices based on individual patient risk profiles.
Lecanemab, donanemab, and the future of Alzheimer's disease treatments
In light of these findings, future research should examine the impact of ARIA risk in larger patient populations and extend the observation period, potentially providing a more accurate estimation of the overall ARIA occurrence in treated patients.
For instance, while some individuals included in this study were observed for more extended periods, the sample size contains patients with different observation times. As a consequence, this study's findings might slightly minimize the percentage of patients experiencing ARIA in the total cohort.
Moreover, as the need for customized treatment decisions increases, healthcare professionals will want to know the advantages and drawbacks of using lecanemab and alternative medications like donanemab, each with its unique benefits and risks. This information will aid physicians in making informed treatment decisions tailored to individual patients’ needs.
The glimmer of hope, but the wary warning
In summary, the FDA approval of lecanemab presents a glimmer of hope for Alzheimer's patients, minimizing memory loss by 25-30% when compared to those not treated with the medication. Considering potential side effects, healthcare professionals must meticulously weigh the advantages and risks to determine each patient's suitable treatment.
Through careful patient selection, monitoring, and informed dialogue, the benefits of lecanemab can be maximized while minimizing serious side effects. As further research unfolds, specialists involved in administering and studying lecanemab will undoubtedly strive to provide improved treatment for Alzheimer's disease patients. Keep those fingers crossed, folks!
Here are the sentences that meet the requirement:
- In treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the drug lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi, has potential side effects like headaches, dizziness, muscle aches, and blurred vision, as well as serious issues such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), characterized by swelling or bleeding in the brain.
- A new study reaffirms that significant adverse events related to ARIA are rare and manageable in real-world use of lecanemab among people in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.
- As part of the study, researchers enrolled individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and treated them at an outpatient specialty memory clinic.
- Lecanemab, an antibody designed to target certain forms of amyloid proteins, works to target and minimize amyloid plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
- Future research should examine the impact of ARIA risk in larger patient populations and extend the observation period, potentially providing a more accurate estimation of the overall ARIA occurrence in treated patients.
