title: Differing immunogenic potentials of interferon beta preparations in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Interferon beta (IFNbeta) is a first-line therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, some patients experience a decline in efficacy with continued therapy due to the development of anti-IFNbeta neutralizing antibodies (NAb). We investigated the frequency of NAb cross-sectionally in 846 MS patients who were receiving IFNbeta-1b, IFNbeta-1a im, or IFNbeta-1a sc. The frequency of NAb in patients receiving IFNbeta-1a im was lower (5%) than in patients treated with any other form of IFNbeta (22-35%) (P < 0.0001). Binding antibodies (BAb) were measured in 808 patients. The frequency differed significantly between treatment groups, ranging from 45% (IFNbeta-1a im) to 88% (IFNbeta-1b). The proportion of NAb-positive patients within the BAb-positive group differed significantly among treatment groups, ranging between 12% (IFNbeta-1a im) and 51% (IFNbeta-1a sc). The median NAb titer from all IFNbeta-1a-treated patients was higher than from IFNbeta-1b-treated patients (446 versus 171 NU/ mL, P = 0.04). Among NAb-positive patients, the frequency of NAb titers > 100 NU/mL was 71% for IFNbeta-1a compared with 58% for IFNbeta-1b (P = 0.04). Except for conflicting data regarding IFNbeta-1a sc, the results are generally consistent with the literature and together with the differing proportion of NAb-positive patients within the BAb-positive group, provide further insight into the immunogenicity of the IFNbeta preparations.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gneiss
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tripp
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reichartseder
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ehling
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutterotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuenz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mayringer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reindl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deisenhammer
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000906:Antibodies; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a