Interferon beta1a (Avonex) treatment in multiple sclerosis: similarity of effect on progression of disability in patients with mild and moderate disability.
OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical responses to once-weekly intramuscular interferon-beta-1 a [IFNbeta-1 a, Avonex, Biogen] in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) < or = 3.5 or > 3.5.


METHODS
Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 124 with baseline EDSS < or = 3.5 and 64 RRMS patients with EDSS > 3.5, were consecutively recruited to receive IFNbeta-1 a 30 microg as a once weekly injection for 18 months. The primary endpoint of the study was the number of patients in each group with sustained worsening in disability, defined as 1-point deterioration in EDSS that persisted for at least 6 months during the 18 month follow-up period. Subordinate endpoints included relapse rates and the number of treatment dropouts.


RESULTS
Among patients with baseline EDSS < or = 3.5,16.9% experienced a deterioration in EDSS of at least 1 point; 22.5% experienced a deterioration of at least 0.5%. Corresponding rates in patients with baseline EDSS > 3.5 were 23.4% and 29% respectively (no significant differences between patients stratified according to baseline EDSS status). The proportion of patients discontinuing therapy was significantly higher in patients with baseline EDSS > 3.5 than in those with baseline EDSS < or = 3.5 (16/64 versus 12/124; p = 0.005). At the conclusion of follow-up, IFNbeta-1 a therapy was associated with a 31.7% reduction in relapse rate in patients with baseline EDSS < or = 3.5 and a 37% reduction in those with baseline EDSS > 3.5 (difference not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
During 18 months of treatment and follow-up, no difference was observed in clinical responses to IFNbeta-1 a between RRMS patients with mild and moderate disability but discontinuation of therapy was more frequent in the more disabled group.
Vermersch
P
P
Department of Neurology Hĵpital R. Salengro, CHRU of Lille, France.
de Seze
J
J
Stojkovic
T
T
Hautecoeur
P
P
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a