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- Title
Interferon beta in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis.
- Authors
Río, Jordi.; Tintoré, Mar; Nos, Carlos; Téllez, Nieves; Galán, Ingrid; Montalban, Xavier
- Abstract
Background and objective Long-term observational studies may provide additional information about the behaviour of different drugs in the post-marketing period. We present the data of our cohort of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFNβ). Methods We analysed RRMS patients followed for at least 2 years. From 1995, we initiated therapy with IFNβ. As they became available, patients were allocated to one of the IFNs at standard doses (IFNβ-1b, IFNβ-1a i. m. or IFNβ-1a s. c.). Each patient was included in a follow-up protocol containing demographic and baseline clinical data. Results Between 1995 and 2004, 382 patients have completed at least 2 years of follow-up. Significant differences at entry were observed. Patients on IFNβ-1b had a higher disease activity and disability at baseline than those on IFNβ- 1a i. m. or IFNβ-1a s. c. A significant reduction in the relapse rate was observed for the three drugs (70 % for IFNβ-1b, 64% for IFNβ- 1a i. m. and 74 % for IFNβ-1a s. c.). We observed a sustained progression of disability in 11% of patients on IFNβ-1b, 17% on IFNβ-1a i. m. and 19% on IFNβ-1a s. c.; and at four years of follow-up in 24% of patients on IFNβ-1b, 23% on IFNβ- 1a i. m. and 35% on IFNβ-1a s. c. No unexpected major adverse events were observed with any of the drugs. Conclusions Interferon beta is safe and well tolerated. The various registered interferon beta drugs provide a comparable efficacy in a large non-selected cohort of RRMS patients.
- Subjects
MULTIPLE sclerosis; INTERFERONS; ANTINEOPLASTIC agents; ANTIVIRAL agents; GLYCOPROTEINS; DEMYELINATION; MYELIN sheath diseases; VIRUS diseases
- Publication
Journal of Neurology, 2005, Vol 252, Issue 7, p795
- ISSN
0340-5354
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00415-005-0748-5