Evaluation of BAFF, APRIL and CD40L in Ocrelizumab-Treated pwMS and Infectious Risk.

A total of 38 pwMS and 26 HD were enrolled. At baseline, pwMS showed higher plasma BAFF ( < 0.0001), APRIL ( = 0.0223) and CD40L ( < 0.0001) levels compared to HD. Compared to T0, plasma BAFF levels were significantly increased at both T6 and T12 ( < 0.0001 and < 0.0001, respectively). Whereas plasma APRIL and CD40L levels were decreased at T12 ( = 0.0003 and < 0.0001, respectively). When stratifying pwMS according to the development of an infectious event during the 12-month follow-up period in two groups-with (14) and without an infectious event (24)-higher plasma BAFF levels were observed at all time-points; significantly, in the group with an infectious event compared to the group without an infectious event (T0: < 0.0001, T6: = 0.0056 and T12: = 0.0400). BAFF may have a role as a marker of immune dysfunction and of infectious risk.