Systemic lymphoblastoid interferon therapy in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. I. Clinical and MRI evaluation.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, noncrossover trial determined the efficacy of lymphoblastoid interferon (IFN) in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (CP MS). Fifty patients received 5 X 10(6) IU IFN subcutaneously daily for 6 months while 50 received placebo. After 2 years, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups based on clinical evaluations and quantitative MRI analysis of the brain, although a trend was observed in the IFN group. Clinically, the IFN group was worse at 1 and 3 months and improved at 6 to 18 months, when compared with the placebo group. Results of MRI evaluations of the brain at 6 months support this trend. This trend likely resulted from a subpopulation of 10 IFN-treated patients, characterized by a higher women:men ratio and a lower EDSS score at entry into the trial. We cannot recommend lymphoblastoid IFN as treatment for CP MS at this time.
Kastrukoff
L F
LF
Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Oger
J J
JJ
Hashimoto
S A
SA
Sacks
S L
SL
Li
D K
DK
Palmer
M R
MR
Koopmans
R A
RA
Petkau
A J
AJ
Berkowitz
J
J
Paty
D W
DW
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D007370:Interferon Type I