title: Predictive value of early serum cytokine changes on long-term interferon beta-1a efficacy in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, we had evaluated short-term effects of interferon beta-1a (IFNB-1a) 44 μg s.c. three times per week treatment on serum levels of IFN-gamma (IFNG), IL-23, IL-17, IL-10, IL-9, IL-4 and TGF-beta (TGFB) and found a reduction only in IL-17 and IL-23 levels after 2 months of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the same multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort, we assessed the predictive value of early cytokine level changes (difference between 2nd month and baseline levels as measured by ELISA) on the efficacy of long-term IFNB-1a treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alteration in IFNG levels of patients without any relapse was statistically lower than that of patients having one or more relapses (p = 0.019, Student's t-test). When patients with or without expanded disability severity scale (EDSS) progression were compared, none of the cytokine level changes showed a significant difference between groups. IL-17 and IL-23 level changes did not predict relapse and EDSS progression in IFNB-1a-treated MS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the predictive power of early IFNG measurement on relapse occurrence may potentially extend a time span of several years.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Neurology, Haseki Educational and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Belgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petek-Balcı
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Çoban
authors.forename: Erkingül
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shugaiv
authors.forename: Recai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: İçöz
authors.forename: Münevver
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pehlivan
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tüzün
authors.forename: Gülşen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akman-Demir
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kürtüncü
authors.forename: Mefküre
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eraksoy
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: IFN-gamma; cytokine; interferon-beta; multiple sclerosis