Eur Neurol. 2003;50(4):215-9
Karg E, Klivenyi P, Bencsik K, Turi S, Vecsei L.
Department of Pediatrics, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical School, University
of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the influence of interferon-beta-1b (INF-beta-1b) therapy on blood antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol and NADPH) in multiple sclerosis (MS).
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 14) have been studied during 6 months of INF-beta-1b therapy.
alpha-Tocopherol was determined by HPLC and UV or electrochemical detection; NADPH was quantified spectrophotometrically.
RESULTS:
The erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol level was reduced (p < 0.001) before treatment, but had regained the control level by 6 months of therapy.
The plasma alpha-tocopherol/lipid ratios were constant during therapy.
Plasma triglyceride levels were transiently increased (p = 0.0270) after 1 month of treatment.
INF-beta-1b had also induced a transient decrease in NADPH after 1 month, but thereafter the level returned to approximately the initial value (p = 0.0248).
CONCLUSION:
INF-beta-1b seems to exert a sparing effect toward the erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol content.
The fall in NADPH in parallel to the rise in plasma triglycerides suggests stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by INF-beta-1b.