The effect of interferon-beta on oxidative stress in patients with multiple sclerosis

Objective: To assess the effect of interferonbeta on oxidative stress and total antioxidant status in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Design: Case-control study.
Setting: College of Medicine and Ibn-Sina Teaching Hospital, Mosul.
Methodology: The study included 40 female patients with MS. They divided into 2 groups of 20 patients each. Group one included newly diagnosed MS patients and group 2 with relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in remission phase, who were on interferon therapy. Another twenty apparently healthy females, age matched with the patients, were considered as a control. Malondyaldehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured in all groups.
Results: MDA values of both patients groups (1.480.59 mol/l and 1.000.49 mol/l, respectively), were significantly higher than those of the control group (0.600.18 mol/l) (p<0.001). MDA values were significantly higher in newly diagnosed group than of RRMS 0.001). The TAS values of both patients groups (0.910.26 mmol/l and 1.430.20 mmol/l, respectively) were significantly lower than those of the control group (2.140.21 mmol/l), (p<0.001). TAS values of the newly diagnosed patients were significantly lower than those of the patients group with RRMS on interferon thera patients group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: MS patients have higher levels of MDA and lower levels of TAS than the control group. The newly diagnosed patients have significantly higher levels of MDA and lower TAS than RRMS patients on interferon-beta therapy. This result may give a new insight about interferon being effective in management of MS by acting as antioxidant.
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