title: Interferon beta-1a in children with multiple sclerosis is well tolerated.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease rare in children. Currently marketed disease modifying therapies are limited to adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the tolerability of interferon beta-1a (IFNB-1 a) 30 mcg injected intramuscularly once a week in children with clinically definite relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized questionnaire was sent to neurologists in the United States to determine the tolerability of IFNB-1 a in patients younger than 16 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tolerability data were available for 9 of 33 children who were reported to initiate IFNB-1 a. Mean age on initiating treatment was 12.7 years (range 8 - 15) and mean duration of therapy was 17 months (range 5 - 36). No patient discontinued therapy due to an adverse event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data indicate that weekly intramuscular injections of IFNB-1 a are well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: UCSF/Mt Zion Multiple Sclerosis Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. emmanuelle.waubant@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waubant
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hietpas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dyme
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rensel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwid
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goodkin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a