title: Determinants of Gd-enhanced MRI response to IFN-beta-1a treatment in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The decision to use interferon beta (IFN-beta) as a treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is based on both clinical characteristics and course of the disease. To better identify the profile of responders, the relationships between baseline clinical/MRI characteristics and therapeutical response was analyzed in 49 patients with RRMS randomly assigned to receive subcutaneously 3 or 9 MIU of IFN-beta-1a. The therapeutical response was evaluated as a per cent change in the mean number and volume of monthly Gd-enhancing lesions in both first (early response) and second (late response) 6-month period of treatment, compared to the 6-month pre-treatment period. A better early response was seen in patients with a lower number of relapses during the pre-treatment period, while the late response was favourably influenced by a lower baseline EDSS and the high dose. Our findings suggest that the effect of IFN-beta-1 a on disease MRI activity is dose-related and dependent on the relapse rate and the level of disability before treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koudriavtseva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galgani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frontoni
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D003287:Contrast Media; D016899:Interferon-beta; D005682:Gadolinium