title: Influence of interferon-beta therapy switching on neutralizing antibody titres: results from the Austrian Switch Study.
abstract: Neutralizing antibodies against interferon-beta are associated with a reduction of the efficacy of this drug. Continuing treatment leads to a decline or even loss of neutralizing antibodies over years. No strategies are currently available to shorten the period of neutralizing antibody positivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of switching between high and low immunogenic interferon-beta products on neutralising antibody titres. Twenty-four patients treated with the subcutaneously administered interferon-beta 1b or 1a and high titres of neutralizing antibodies were included. At baseline interferon-beta therapy was interrupted for 3 months and two pulses of high dose methylprednisolone were applied. Patients were then randomized to receive either the previous interferon-beta preparation or the low immunogenic intramuscular interferon-beta 1a. The primary end-point was the change of neutralizing antibody titres 12 months after randomization. Twelve patients were switched to interferon-beta 1a intramuscularly and 12 patients remained on previous treatment. Median neutralizing antibody titres were 846 NU at baseline and 196 NU at the end of the study. The median change of neutralizing antibody titres did not differ significantly between therapy switchers and non-switchers. Baseline and final neutralizing antibody titres correlated significantly. In conclusion, neither switching nor continuous therapy with any subcutaneous interferon-beta preparation significantly changed neutralizing antibody titres.
authors: Clinical Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gneiss
authors: Pia-Maria
authors: PM
authors: Koudouovoh-Tripp
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Ropele
authors: Thaddäus
authors: T
authors: Gotwald
authors: Rainer
authors: R
authors: Ehling
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Lutterotti
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Aichner
authors: Gunther
authors: G
authors: Ladurner
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Eggers
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Schautzer
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Künz
authors: Alban
authors: A
authors: Millonig
authors: Engelbert
authors: E
authors: Aspeck
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Reindl
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Berger
authors: Franz
authors: F
authors: Fazekas
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Deisenhammer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D001317:Austria; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D008775:Methylprednisolone; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a