title: Magnetic resonance imaging outcome of new enhancing lesions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon beta1a.
abstract: We investigated whether interferon-beta1a modifies the course of new enhancing lesions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Sixty-eight patients were studied by monthly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a pretest-posttest design including 6 months of observation and 6 months of treatment. We examined the course of new Gd-enhancing lesions on two consecutive scans during observation and during treatment. Lesions detected during treatment were also analyzed by MRI 1 year later for persistence of enhancement, persistence of T2 hyperintensity, development of T1 hypointensity, or disappearance. Among the enhancing lesions detected by observation and treatment MRI, respectively, Gd-enhancement persisted at 2 months in 20% and 3% (P < 0.001), T2 hyperintensity persisted in 86% and 63% (P < 0.03), and T1 hypointensity developed in 49% and 15% (P < 0.01). Progression to T1 hypointensity was significantly more frequent in larger lesions during both the observation and treatment periods (P < 0.01). No reenhancement of plaques was present at 1-year follow-up; a further reduction in T2 hyperintensity (63% vs. 39%) was observed while T1 hypointensity remained unchanged. Both the duration of Gd enhancement and the short-term MRI course of new enhancing lesions benefited by treatment with recombinant interferon-beta1a treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolillo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frontoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giugni
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luccichenti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015588:Observer Variation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a