Predictive factors of neutralizing antibodies development in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients on interferon Beta-1b therapy

Abstract

The identification of predictive factors of NAbs development might have a relevant impact on clinical practice. Our objective is to look after predictive factors of NAbs development in MS IFN Beta-1b-treated patients. Database was screened for patients on IFN Beta-1b treatment with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) at a baseline between 1 and 3.5, disease duration shorter than 15 years, and NAbs analysis performed every 6 months. The NAbs positive status was analysed in relation to baseline clinical, neuropsychological and brain imaging measures. Forty-nine patients were included. Sixteen patients had become NAbs positive at some point on IFN therapy (35%). NAbs producers differed from not producers for higher incidence of cognitive deficit and higher lesion load (OR = 5.0 and 5.6, respectively). Our study suggests that NAbs development might be a marker of a more aggressive disease and that worse outcome in NAbs producers might be biased by baseline condition.

Janus‐like effects of type I interferon in autoimmune diseases

“…One well known theory for the decreased bioavailability is the development of antibodies to IFN‐β (45). Several studies have identified that in some non‐responders repeated injections of recombinant IFN‐β elicits an antibody response against the cytokine, and in theory, these antibodies neutralize IFN‐β’s beneficial effects (46–48). However, there are studies showing that the development of anti‐IFN‐β antibodies has no effect on the clinical outcome of the treatment (49).…”