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Effects of recombinant α‐2b‐interferon therapy in patients with progressive MS
Author(s) -
Kinnunen E.,
Timonen T.,
Pirttilä T.,
Kalliomäki P.,
Ketonen L.,
Matikainen E.,
Sepponen R.,
Juntunen J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1993.tb04136.x
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple sclerosis , recombinant dna , interferon , interferon alfa , glatiramer acetate , gastroenterology , alpha interferon , cd16 , surgery , immunology , cd8 , biology , biochemistry , cd3 , antigen , gene
The effects of systemic recombinant interferon‐α‐2b were studied in 6 carefully selected patients with progressive multiple sclerosis. 3.0 million IU were given as daily subcutaneous injections for 6 months, 5 patients showed worsening disability, and in 4 of them new or enlarged lesions were detected in MRI. In one patient no change in disability was found; his MRI showed regressed changes. The mean progression index during the treatment was significantly higher (p < 0.02) than during the previous 2 to 3 years’ period of continuous progression. The frequency of peripheral blood natural killer (CD16 +) cells declined significantly 3 months during the treatment, but returned to the pretreatment values after termination the treatment. An increase of intrathecal IgG synthesis and oligoclonal bands was demonstrated in 4 and 3 patients, respectively. Our experience suggests that long‐term recombinant IFN‐α‐2b treatment may activate the immunological process of MS.