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NEUROLOGY 2005;65:1964-1966
© 2005 American Academy of Neurology
Brief Communications

Immune response to influenza vaccine is maintained in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving interferon beta-1a

Steven R. Schwid, MD, Michael D. Decker, MD, MPH, Maria Lopez-Bresnahan, MD for the Rebif-Influenza Vaccine Study Investigators*

From the Department of Neurology (Dr. Schwid), University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; Scientific and Medical Affairs (Dr. Decker), Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, PA; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Dr. Decker), Nashville, TN; and Serono, Inc. (Dr. Lopez-Bresnahan), Rockland, MA.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Steven R. Schwid, Department of Neurology-Neuroimmunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 605, Rochester, NY 14642; e-mail: steven_schwid{at}urmc.rochester.edu

Immunologic response was assessed prospectively using influenza vaccine in 86 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who were taking interferon beta-1a and 77 patients who were not taking interferon. Blood samples were assayed for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers 0, 21, and 28 days after immunization. The two groups were similar in the proportion of patients achieving an HI titer of 40 or greater, the prespecified primary end point and on all secondary indicators of immune response.

*See the appendix for a full listing of participating investigators.

Disclosure: The study was sponsored by Serono, Inc. Dr. Schwid has received honoraria from Serono for speaking engagements and educational activities. Dr. Decker is an employee of Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of Fluzone vaccine. Dr. Lopez-Bresnahan is an employee of Serono, the manufacturer of IFNß-1a (Rebif).

Received July 19, 2005. Accepted in final form September 16, 2005.






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