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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Neutralizing antibodies explain the poor clinical response to Interferon beta in a small proportion of patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a retrospective study

Authors: Emilia Sbardella, Valentina Tomassini, Claudio Gasperini, Francesca Bellomi, Luca Ausili Cefaro, Vincenzo Brescia Morra, Guido Antonelli, Carlo Pozzilli

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against Interferon beta (IFNβ) are reported to be associated with poor clinical response to therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. We aimed to quantify the contribution of NAbs to the sub-optimal response of IFNβ treatment.

Methods

We studied the prevalence of NAbs in MS patients grouped according to their clinical response to IFNβ during the treatment period. Patients were classified as: group A, developing ≥ 1 relapse after the first 6 months of therapy; group B, exhibiting confirmed disability progression after the first 6 months of therapy, with or without superimposed relapses; group C, presenting a stable disease course during therapy. A cytopathic effect assay tested the presence of NAbs in a cohort of ambulatory MS patients treated with one of the available IFNβ formulations for at least one year. NAbs positivity was defined as NAbs titre ≥ 20 TRU.

Results

Seventeen patients (12.1%) were NAbs positive. NAbs positivity correlated with poorer clinical response (p < 0.04). As expected, the prevalence of NAbs was significantly lower in Group C (2.1%) than in Group A (17.0%) and Group B (17.0%). However, in the groups of patients with a poor clinical response (A, B), NAbs positivity was found only in a small proportion of patients.

Conclusion

The majority of patients with poor clinical response are NAbs negative suggesting that NAbs explains only partially the sub-optimal response to IFNβ.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Neutralizing antibodies explain the poor clinical response to Interferon beta in a small proportion of patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a retrospective study
Authors
Emilia Sbardella
Valentina Tomassini
Claudio Gasperini
Francesca Bellomi
Luca Ausili Cefaro
Vincenzo Brescia Morra
Guido Antonelli
Carlo Pozzilli
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-9-54

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