Gender effects on treatment response to interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Gender influences multiple sclerosis (MS) incidence and disease progression.
• Understanding sex-based differences in MS treatment response is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if male and female patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibit differential responses to interferon-beta treatment.
• Specifically, to assess if gender impacts the reduction in relapse rates achieved with interferon-beta therapy.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2033 relapsing-remitting MS patients treated with interferon-beta (1996-2003) from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Register.
• Patients were categorized into neutralizing antibody (NAb)-positive and NAb-negative periods based on test results.
• Relapse rates were compared within individuals between NAb-negative and NAb-positive periods to assess treatment efficacy and NAb impact.

Main Results:

• Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) significantly reduced the efficacy of interferon-beta treatment in both genders.
• The overall relapse rate ratio between women and men was 1.47, indicating higher relapse rates in women irrespective of NAb status.
• While NAbs, sex, age, and prior relapse history were significant factors, the effect of NAbs on relapse rates did not significantly differ between men and women.

Conclusions:

• Neutralizing antibodies strongly impact on-treatment relapse rates in both sexes.
• There is no statistically significant difference in the effect of interferon-beta on relapse rates between men and women with MS.
• The findings suggest that interferon-beta's efficacy is similarly affected by NAbs in both genders, with no indication of a differential treatment effect based on sex.