Interferon beta in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. An eight years experience in a specialist multiple sclerosis centre.
OBJECTIVE
Long-term observational studies may provide additional information about the behaviour of different drugs in the post-marketing period. We present the data of our cohort of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with interferon beta (IFNbeta).


METHODS
We analysed RRMS patients followed for at least 2 years. From 1995, we initiated therapy with IFNbeta. As they became available, patients were allocated to one of the IFNs at standard doses (IFNbeta-1b, IFNbeta-1a i.m. or IFNbeta-1a s.c.). Each patient was included in a follow-up protocol containing demographic and baseline clinical data.


RESULTS
Between 1995 and 2004, 382 patients have completed at least 2 years of follow-up. Significant differences at entry were observed. Patients on IFNbeta-1b had a higher disease activity and disability at baseline than those on IFNbeta-1a i.m. or IFNbeta-1a s.c. A significant reduction in the relapse rate was observed for the three drugs (70% for IFNbeta-1b, 64% for IFNbeta-1a i.m. and 74% for IFNbeta-1a s.c.). We observed a sustained progression of disability in 11% of patients on IFNbeta-1b, 17% on IFNbeta-1a i.m. and 19% on IFNbeta-1a s.c.; and at four years of follow-up in 24% of patients on IFNbeta-1b, 23% on IFNbeta-1a i.m. and 35% on IFNbeta-1a s.c. No unexpected major adverse events were observed with any of the drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon beta is safe and well tolerated. The various registered interferon beta drugs provide a comparable efficacy in a large non-selected cohort of RRMS patients.
Río
Jordi
J
2a planta EUI, Unitat de Neuroimmunología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Psg.Vall d'Hebron 119-120, 08035, Barcelona, Spain. jrio@vhebron.net
Tintoré
Mar
M
Nos
Carlos
C
Téllez
Nieves
N
Galán
Ingrid
I
Montalban
Xavier
X
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a