Effects of interferon beta-1b on black holes in multiple sclerosis over a 6-year period with monthly evaluations.
BACKGROUND
Chronic, hypointense black holes (BHs) are recognized as a sign of permanent damage in patients with multiple sclerosis. Although the effects of interferon beta-1b in reducing the formation of new BHs are established, it is not clear whether the drug may reduce BH duration after these lesions are formed.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effects of interferon beta-1b in reducing the duration of T1 BHs in patients with multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
Patients were clinically assessed and imaged monthly over a 36-month natural history phase and 36-month therapy phase. Numbers of contrast-enhanced lesions and newly formed BHs were counted on each scan. Each BH was counted until it was no longer seen.


METHODS
Outpatient service of the Neuroimmunology Branch at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.


METHODS
Six patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were included. One patient did not form any BHs during the therapy phase. Analyses were performed on the remaining 5 individuals.


METHODS
Interferon beta-1b at the dosage of 8 million international units every other day.


METHODS
Number and duration (in months) of newly formed BHs.


RESULTS
Rate of BH accumulation decreased with treatment (P = .01), but Kaplan-Meier models revealed that the duration of BHs did not shorten (chi2(1) = 2.47, P = .12).


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon beta-1b reduces the frequency of new BH formation but does not appear to decrease their duration in time. Analyses with larger patient cohorts are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Bagnato
Francesca
F
Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA. bagnatof@ninds.nih.gov
Gupta
Shiva
S
Richert
Nancy D
ND
Stone
Roger D
RD
Ohayon
Joan M
JM
Frank
Joseph A
JA
McFarland
Henry F
HF
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta