Longitudinal MRI study: the effects of azathioprine in MS patients refractory to interferon beta-1b.
An open-label study was performed to assess the effectiveness of oral azathioprine (AZA) on augmenting the response to interferon beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b) in patients with treatment-refractory relapsing-remitting MS. Six IFNbeta-1b-treated MS patients with continued disease activity were studied on IFNbeta-1b and AZA therapy for a median period of 15 months. A 69% reduction in the number of contrast-enhancing lesions was observed during the combination therapy (p = 0.002).
Markovic-Plese
S
S
Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA.
Bielekova
B
B
Kadom
N
N
Leist
T P
TP
Martin
R
R
Frank
J A
JA
McFarland
H F
HF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001379:Azathioprine