title: Clinical and immune responses correlate in glatiramer acetate therapy of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Glatiramer acetate (GA) treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) leads to decreased GA-specific proliferative responses and a Th2 cytokine shift. To study a possible correlation between immunological and clinical responses to GA therapy, we prospectively followed RRMS patients clinically, by magnetic resonance imaging and by primary immunological assays. Fluctuation of GA-specific proliferative responses was significantly lower in treatment responders than in untreated patients, and GA-specific proliferative responses were increased during relapses. These associations suggest a possible causal relationship between immunological and clinical responses to GA therapy. Primary proliferation assays may thus be a useful marker for treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Basle, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Baltariu
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wyler
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gober
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lienert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schluep
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Radü
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Libero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Duda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018418:Th2 Cells; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate