title: Interferon alpha treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: long-term study of the correlations between clinical and magnetic resonance imaging results and effects on the immune function.
abstract: Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are proinflammatory cytokines which may be involved in the pathogenesis of MS. IFN-alpha counteracts many of the proinflammatory actions of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. We treated 20 patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS with 9 MIU of recombinant IFN-alpha-2a (rIFN-alpha) (n = 12) or placebo (n = 8) intramuscularly every other day for 6 months. Clinical exacerbations or new or enlarging lesions at serial MRI occurred in 2/12 rIFN-alpha-treated and in 7/8 placebo-treated patients (P < 0.005). Only one new MRI lesion was detected in the rIFN-alpha group, while 27 new or enlarging lesions were detected in placebo group (P < 0.01). Baseline lymphocyte IFN-gamma (19.10 +/- 7.12 U ml-1) and TNF-alpha (18.05 +/- 5.34 pg ml-1) production significantly decreased to 3.03 +/- 0.66 (P < 0.04) (for IFN-gamma) and to 5.78 +/- 0.90 (P < 0.04) (for TNF-alpha) after rIFN-alpha treatment. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production was unchanged in the placebo group. rIFN-alpha was tolerated without drop-outs or serious side-effects, but fever, malaise, fatigue (interfering with daily activities in two patients) and leukopenia frequently occurred. High-dose chronic systemic rIFN-alpha might reduce clinical and MRI signs of disease activity in RRMS. The changes in cytokine production suggest that the effect is probably mediated by a down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Clinica delle Malattie del Sistema Nervoso, Università di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Durelli
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bongioanni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdun
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bradac
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geuna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bergamini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma