Defining the response to interferon‐β in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Criteria of response to IFN-beta therapy in RRMS using disability progression are more clinically relevant than those based only in relapse rate. This finding may be important for the counseling and care of RRMS patients treated with IFN-beta.

Longitudinal interferon-β effects in multiple sclerosis: Differential regulation of IL-10 and IL-17A, while no sustained effects on IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-13

“…Interestingly, these finding mirror changes as predicted by detailed in vitro mechanistic studies of IL-17 (9)(10)(11)(12)14) and . Another main finding of our study was the potential difference between responders and non-responders in IL-17A levels before and after treatment.…”

“…However it is well known that side-effects are sometimes prominent and that a substantial portion of patients (10-50%) do not respond to treatment, which is not only due to the induction of antibodies against the drug (9). Thus, a possibility to predict the treatment response is therefore much wanted and it would therefore be important to better understand the mechanisms of action for IFN-β in relation to disease development.…”

MAGNIMS consensus guidelines on the use of MRI in multiple sclerosis—establishing disease prognosis and monitoring patients

“…58 Statements and recommendations ■ T2 weighted and contrast enhanced T1 weighted brain MRI are the modalities of choice for MS disease monitoring, revealing acute and active inflammation, and clinically silent disease progression 24 Early prediction Some evidence suggests that certain baseline demo graphic variables (for example, age at treatment initi ation), clinical factors (including disease duration at treatment initiation and pretreatment relapse rate) and MRI measures related to disease activity (such as base line lesion load) can help to indicate which patients will benefit most from a first line DMD, and who will have a poor response. 66,[71][72][73][74] However, the relevant studies mainly analysed cohorts receiving different IFN β formulations, produced preliminary or inconsistent results, and have failed to satisfactorily predict treatment response in clinical practice. 70 Other MRI derived metrics-such as global or regional brain volume, or the number of spinal cord lesions-have shown value for predicting relapses or disability progression, 35-37,39,75-77 but have not been specifically analysed for treatment response predictions.…”

A Multiple Sclerosis–Associated Variant of CBLB Links Genetic Risk with Type I IFN Function

“…Blood samples during relapse were collected before the start of steroid treatment. Treatment response to IFN-b was defined according to published criteria (18); one relapse or at least one point of progression in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score both in combination with magnetic resonance imaging activity during 2 y of IFN-b treatment was used to define nonresponder status. "Intermediate responders" were defined as patients suffering from a relapse within the first 3 mo of treatment or solely inflammatory magnetic resonance imaging activity without any relapse or EDSS progression.…”