title: Effects of recombinant alpha-2b-interferon therapy in patients with progressive MS.
abstract: The effects of systemic recombinant interferon-alpha-2b were studied in 6 carefully selected patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. 3.0 million IU were given as daily subcutaneous injections for 6 months, 5 patients showed worsening disability, and in 4 of them new or enlarged lesions were detected in MRI. In one patient no change in disability was found; his MRI showed regressed changes. The mean progression index during the treatment was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than during the previous 2 to 3 years' period of continuous progression. The frequency of peripheral blood natural killer (CD16+) cells declined significantly 3 months during the treatment, but returned to the pretreatment values after termination the treatment. An increase of intrathecal IgG synthesis and oligoclonal bands was demonstrated in 4 and 3 patients, respectively. Our experience suggests that long-term recombinant IFN-alpha-2b treatment may activate the immunological process of MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hyvinkää Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Timonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pirttilä
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalliomäki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ketonen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matikainen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sepponen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juntunen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins