Post by Archief on Feb 12, 2014 8:03:20 GMT
(archief van oude forum oms.yourbb.nl)
libello
Geplaatst: 18 aug 2012, 15:47
Neutralising antibodies to interferon worsen MS
There has long been concern about the effect of neutralising antibodies (NABs) which form in response to regular interferon injections and their effect on the effectiveness of the treatment. Basically, in many people, the body's immune system recognises the injected interferon as foreign, and makes antibodies to it. These antibodies have been known to reduce the effectiveness of the therapy. Nearly half of all people taking Betaferon for example develop these antibodies.
New research shows that there is a much bigger problem with NABs. Italian and Dutch researchers have collaborated to show that well after the interferon is stopped in people who develop these antibodies, the antibodies persist, and actually worsen the disease. People with MS with persisting NABs had increased relapse rates, more rapid progression to disability, and more often needed other aggressive drug therapy like mitoxantrone.
This new research raises further questions about the wisdom of using the interferons for the treatment of MS, when there are much safer options available. The abstract is repoduced below, and the full paper can be downloaded above right. Interestingly, all but one of the authors disclosed financial ties to many of the drug companies that make and market the interferons. The findings should be interpreted in that light, that is, there may have been a tendency to under-emphasise the negative effects of the interferons for people with MS.
Arch Neurol 2010 Feb 8. Clinical Effect of Neutralizing Antibodies to Interferon Beta That Persist Long After Cessation of Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis. van der Voort LF, Gilli F, Bertolotto A, Knol DL, Uitdehaag BM, Polman CH, Killestein J.
Uitdehaag, Polman, and Killestein) and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Drs Knol and Uitdehaag), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Centro di Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla and Neurobiologia Clinica, ASO San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano, Torino, Italy (Drs Gilli and Bertolotto).
www.overcomingmultiplesclerosis.org/News-And-Events/Archive/Detail/Neutralising+antibodies+to+interferon+worsen+MS/