title: Interferon-beta dose and efficacy: the OPTIMS study.
abstract: Interferon beta (IFN-beta) reduces exacerbation rates in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), but some patients do not respond to treatment. Recent studies have shown a clear dose-response effect on the reduction of exacerbation rates, and on burden of disease accumulation and active lesion frequency seen on MRI. During treatment with 8 MIU IFN-beta we noticed a 30% rate of treatment failure. We then treated non-responders with 12 MIU IFN-beta and observed significant improvement in the clinical signs of disease activity. In order to compare the efficacy of two different doses of IFN-beta-1b, a multicenter study for the optimization of interferon for MS (OPTIMS) has been organized. The design of the study is presented here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Durelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oggero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdun
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isoardo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerico
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bradac
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bergamasco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergui
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D016899:Interferon-beta