title: [Experience in the treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta in Galicia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the experience in daily clinical practice of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment in relapsing-remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) multiple sclerosis (MS) in Galicia (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with RR-MS and SP-MS treated with IFN-beta1a and 1b between 1995 and December/2000, analyzing demographic and clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  313 patients were included, with a mean age of 38.2 years. A total of 296 patients (94.6%) were clinically defined MS and 17 (5.4%) were laboratory supported (Poser criteria); 84.6% of the patients were RR and 15.4% were SP. The mean duration of the disease prior to treatment was 7.06 years. Betaferon was used in 52.4% patients (115 RR-MS and 47 SP-MS), Avonex in 26% and Rebif in 21.6%. Relapse rate was reduced in 68.8% for the RR-MS for Betaferon-treated patients, 73.3% for Avonex treated and 35.7% for Rebif-treated patients. Betaferon reduced relapse rate in 50% for SP-MS. The global EDSS remained stable during IFN-beta treatment. During treatment, 33% of Betaferon, 60.5% of Avonex and 54.5% of Rebif-treated patients remained relapse-free. Treatment was suspended in 12.9% of Betaferon, 6.2% of Avonex, and 3% Rebif-treated patients. The most frequent causes of treatment suspension were increase in disability and in relapse count.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study supports the benefits of IFN-beta treatment in RR MS and SP MS in daily clinical practice, with reduction in relapses count and incapacity, good over-all tolerance and low incidence of serious adverse side-effects.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurología, Hospital do Meixoeiro, Vigo, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero-López
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seijo-Martínez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Del Campo
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Amigo-Jorrín
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cortés-Laíño
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dapena-Bolaño
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: López-González
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lorenzo-González
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín-Sánchez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muñoz-García
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozaita-Arteche
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta