[Clinico-immunological comparisons in evaluation of interferon system functioning in patients with multiple...

In search for rational approach for immunotherapy individualization in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) assigned to interferon (IFN) treatment, an evaluation of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) under standard induction and exogenous IFN priming in comparison with clinical characteristics was made. Fifteen patients with MS (6 males and 9 females, aged 25-58 years) with verified diagnosis of MS were examined. IFN production priming allowed to obtain characteristics of IFN system deficiency, which could not be detected by standard induction methods. Correlation between induced and primed PBL. IFN-gamma production and MS severity, duration and course was found. Patients with no PBL blood cells dissociate response to IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma exhibited less neurological deficit than those with associations in response. A use of blood cell sensitivity to exogenous IFN in individualization of MS immunotherapy with IFN-medications is discussed.