Special Precautions/Comments:

Interferences: None known

Additional Information:

Indication: Beta 2 interferon therapy

Background Information: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) receiving interferon beta (IFN-beta) may develop neutralising anti-interferon beta antibodies (NABs) during treatment. These NABs are clinically relevant and reduce the clinical efficacy of interferon beta [1,3]. It is unclear whether occurrence of NABs are predictive for the persistence of NABs during continued IFN-beta therapy. Studies have shown that NABs should be measured in all patients treated with IFN-beta. If patients have been persistently NAB-negative for 24 months, measurements can be discontinued. Patients who have been NAB-positive for a period of 18 months or more usually remain NAB-positive for a long time [2].

References: Sorensen PS, et al. Appearance and disappearance of neutralising antibodies during interferon-beta therapy. Neurology. 2005. 65:33-39. [Ref 1] Sorensen PS, et al. Clinical importance of neutralising antibodies against interferon beta in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The Lancet. 2003. 362(9391):1184-1191. [Ref 2] Giovannoni G, Munschauer FE, Deisenhammer F. Neutralising antibodies to interferon beta during the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 2002. 73:465-469. [Ref 3