Guidelines on the clinical use for the detection of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to IFN beta in multiple sclerosis therapy: report from the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Study group.

Abstract

Interferon beta (IFNβ) was the first specific disease-modifying treatment licensed for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, and is still one of the most commonly prescribed treatments. A strong body of evidence supports the effectiveness of IFNβ preparations in reducing the annual relapse rate, magnetic resonance (MRI) disease activity and disease progression. However, the development of binding/neutralizing antibodies (BAbs/NAbs) during treatment negatively affects clinical and MRI outcomes. Therefore, guidelines for the clinical use for the detection of NAbs in MS may result in better treatment of these patients. In October 2012, a panel of Italian neurologists from 17 MS clinics convened in Milan to review and discuss data on NAbs and their clinical relevance in the treatment of MS. In this paper, we report the panel's recommendations for the use of IFNβ Nabs detection in the early identification of IFNβ non-responsiveness and the management of patients on IFNβ treatment in Italy, according to a model of therapeutically appropriate care.

• Authors: Antonio Bertolotto, Marco Capobianco, Maria Pia Amato, Elisabetta Capello, Ruggero Capra, Diego Centonze, Maria Di Ioia, Antonio Gallo, Luigi Grimaldi, Luisa Imberti, Alessandra Lugaresi, Chiara Mancinelli, Maria Giovanna Marrosu, Lucia Moiola, Enrico Montanari, Silvia Romano, Luigina Musu, Damiano Paolicelli, Francesco Patti, Carlo Pozzilli, Silvia Rossi, Marco Salvetti, Gioachino Tedeschi, Maria Rosaria Tola, Maria Trojano, Maria Troiano, Mauro Zaffaroni, Simona Malucchi, Italian Multiple Sclerosis Study group
• Journal: Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (Neurol Sci) Vol. 35 Issue 2 Pg. 307-16 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1590-3478 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 24374787 (Publication Type: Consensus Development Conference, Journal Article, Practice Guideline, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neutralizing
• Immunologic Factors
• MX1 protein, human
• Myxovirus Resistance Proteins
• Interferon-beta

Topics

• Antibodies, Neutralizing (blood)
• Early Diagnosis
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Interferon-beta (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Italy
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Multiple Sclerosis (diagnosis, drug therapy, economics, immunology)
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting (diagnosis, drug therapy, economics, immunology)
• Myxovirus Resistance Proteins (metabolism)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic