Recommendations for clinical use of data on neutralising antibodies to interferon-beta therapy in multiple sclerosis

Chris H. Polman, Antonio Bertolotto, Florian Deisenhammer, Gavin Giovannoni, Hans Peter Hartung, Bernhard Hemmer, Joep Killestein, Henry F. McFarland, Joel Oger, Andrew R. Pachner, John Petkau, Anthony T. Reder, Stephen C. Reingold, Huub Schellekens, Per Soelberg Sørensen

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

187 Scopus citations

Abstract

The identification of factors that can affect the efficacy of immunomodulatory drugs in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is important. For the available interferon-beta products, neutralising antibodies (NAb) have been shown to affect treatment efficacy. In June, 2009, a panel of experts in MS and NAbs to interferon-beta therapy convened in Amsterdam, Netherlands, under the auspices of the Neutralizing Antibodies on Interferon beta in Multiple Sclerosis consortium, a European-based project of the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission, to review and discuss data on NAbs and their practical consequences for the treatment of patients with MS on interferon beta. The panel believed that information about NAbs and other markers of biological activity of interferons (ie, myxovirus resistance protein A [MxA]) can be integrated with clinical and imaging indicators to guide individual treatment decisions. In cases of sustained high-titre NAb positivity and/or lack of MxA bioactivity, a switch to a non-interferon-beta therapy should be considered. In patients who are doing poorly clinically, therapy should be switched irrespective of NAb or MxA bioactivity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)740-750
Number of pages11
JournalThe Lancet Neurology
Volume9
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

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