Interferon-beta dose and efficacy: the OPTIMS study.
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.
Durelli
L
L
Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, Italy.
Oggero
A
A
Verdun
E
E
Barbero
P
P
Pipieri
A
A
Isoardo
G
G
Ricci
A
A
Clerico
M
M
Bradac
G
G
Bergamasco
B
B
Bergui
M
M
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D016899:Interferon-beta