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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array Digital Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Human Interferon-α
Published on: June 14, 2018
Non-adherence to interferon-beta therapy in Swedish patients with multiple sclerosis
A Cunningham1, K Gottberg, L von Koch
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden. cunningham.anna@gmail.com
Objectives:
To explore the occurrence and reasons for stopping, switching or continuing first prescribed interferon-beta therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis in Sweden, with respect to demographic, clinical and/or therapy-related factors.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective study reviewing the medical charts of 259 patients with multiple sclerosis, comparing patients continuing therapy for at least 3 years with those switching or stopping therapy.
Results:
Sixty 9% stopped (15%), or switched (54%), interferon-beta therapy within 3 years. Stoppers had longer disease duration before starting therapy (P = 0.002), less frequently relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (P = 0.046), and more often Expanded Disability Status Scale scores 6-9.5 (P = 0.045) compared to Switchers. The most common reasons for switching/stopping therapy were perceived lack of effect and side-effects.
Conclusions:
Adherence to initial immune-modulating therapy is low; identification of patients at higher risk of stopping therapy and provision of adequate support are essential.
