title: Intramuscular interferon beta-1a for disease progression in relapsing multiple sclerosis. The Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research Group (MSCRG)
abstract: The accepted standard treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis consists of medications for disease symptoms, including treatment for acute exacerbations. However, currently there is no therapy that alters the progression of physical disability associated with this disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether interferon beta-1a could slow the progressive, irreversible, neurological disability of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Three hundred one patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis were randomized into a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III trial of interferon beta-1a. Interferon beta-1a, 6.0 million units (30 micrograms¿, was administered by intramuscular injection weekly. The primary outcome variable was time to sustained disability progression of at least 1.0 point on the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Interferon beta-1a treatment produced a significant delay in time to sustained EDSS progression (p = 0.02). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the proportion of patients progressing by the end of 104 weeks was 34.9% in the placebo group and 21.9% in the interferon beta-1a-treated group. Patients treated with interferon beta-1a also had significantly fewer exacerbations (p = 0.03) and a significantly lower number and volume of gadolinium-enhanced brain lesions on magnetic resonance images (p-values ranging between 0.02 and 0.05). Over 2 years, the annual exacerbation rate was 0.90 in placebo-treated patients versus 0.61 in interferon beta-1a-treated patients. There were no major adverse events related to treatment. Interferon beta-1a had a significant beneficial impact in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients by reducing the accumulation of permanent physical disability, exacerbation frequency, and disease activity measured by gadolinium-enhanced lesions on brain magnetic resonance images. This treatment may alter the fundamental course of relapsing multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Buffalo General Hospital, New York 14203, USA.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cookfair
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rudick
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Herndon
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Goodkin
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bartoszak
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bourdette
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braiman
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Brownscheidle
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Coats
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cohan
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kinkel
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mass
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Munschauer
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Priore
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pullicino
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Scherokman
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Whitham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010919:Placebos; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010919:Placebos; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a