Antinuclear antibodies and response to IFN beta-1a therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

We determined whether positive ANA was related to response to rlFN beta-I a in 62 relapsing-remitting MS patients. According to the presence of antinu clear antibodies (ANA) at baseline and during the first 6 months of treatme nt patients were sorted in different groups. The clinical and MRI outcome d uring shore-term (6 months) and long-term (24 months) treatment period was not statistically different between the groups. Therefore, the response to IFN beta-I a seems not to be influenced by ANA occurrence either before or during treatment When the analysis was extended to other autoantibodies (i. e. antithyroid, anticardiolipin) similar results were obtained.