Interferon β1a therapy changes lipoprotein metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis

To assess whether interferon β1a (IFNβ1a) therapy affects plasma lipoprotein metabolism, twelve patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied during a two-year follow-up period. High density lipoprotein (HDL₂) cholesterol and the HDL₂/HDL₃ ratio were increased at year 2 and lipoprotein (a) was transitorily increased at year 1, in comparison to baseline levels. Apolipoprotein A-I was lower and apolipoprotein E higher at year 1, only in a subgroup of patients who experienced relapses and/or progressed during therapy. These findings suggest that IFNβ1a treatment is associated with changes in the lipoprotein metabolism. Alterations in this metabolism could be related to the immunomodulatory actions of the drug and the disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients.