title: MRI and clinical activity in MS patients after terminating treatment with interferon beta-1b.
abstract: Monthly MRI activity and clinical disability were evaluated in two relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients for 4 years during a cross-over treatment trial with IFNbeta-1b, and for a mean of 21 months after terminating treatment with IFNbeta-1b. Post-treatment MRI activity was compared to baseline activity in these patients. Although contrast enhancing lesions (CEL) and the bulk white matter lesion load (BWMLL) on T2-weighted images eventually returned to baseline values, there was a refractory period of 6 - 10 months after terminating treatment, before baseline MRI activity was restored. Although the mechanism for a sustained effect of IFNbeta-1b is unclear at this time, these results have important implications for enrollment of such patients into new treatment protocols that rely on contrast enhancing lesion frequency as an outcome measure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Diagnostic Radiology Research, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zierak
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bash
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a