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Persistence of neutralizing antibodies after discontinuation of IFNβ therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

2006; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 12; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1191/135248505ms1324oa

1477-0970

Bodil Laub Petersen, Klaus Bendtzen, Nils Koch‐Henriksen, Mads Ravnborg, Christian Roß, Per Soelberg Sørensen,

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research

Objective The main objective was to follow serum levels of neutralizing antibodies (NABs) against interferon-beta (IFNβ) after discontinuation of IFNβ therapy. Background A large proportion of patients treated with recombinant IFNβ for multiple sclerosis (MS) develop therapy-induced NABs. Knowledge of persistence of NABs after discontinuation of therapy is limited. Design/patients: A retrospective follow-up study of patients treated in Denmark for relapsing-remitting (RR) MS with IFNβ for at least 12 months. NAB-positive patients, who discontinued therapy, were followed up with measurements of NABs. Methods We measured NAB-neutralizing capacity and NAB titres a.m. Kawade using a clinically validated cytopathic effect assay. Results Thirty-seven patients were included. Mean follow-up time was 22 months. Of the 29 patients with a NAB titre at or above 25 prior to termination of therapy, only three patients reverted to a titre below 25. Of these, two had a titre below 200 and one patient a titre of 600 at the last examination before treatment stop. The longest post-treatment follow-up during which a patient maintained NAB positivity was 59 months. Conclusion NABs against IFNβ, especially with high titres, tend to persist for a long time after discontinuation of IFNβ therapy. NABs should always be measured before reinstitution of IFNβ treatment in NAB-positive patients.