title: The IFNbeta treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in clinical practice: the experience at the MS Center of Bari, Italy.
abstract: This independent, population-based surveillance study monitored, in clinical practice, the efficacy of interferon beta (IFNbeta) products in 1173 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Italy. Relapses and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were evaluated for up to 6 years for Avonex, Betaferon and Rebif 22 groups, and for up to 3 years for the Rebif 44 group. IFNbeta products produced significant reductions from baseline in relapse rates at 2, 4 and >4 years (p<0.0001), with no differences among treatments (p=0.2). A modest significant (p<0.05) increase of EDSS was observed in all treatment groups from baseline to 48 months, followed thereafter by a plateau. The IFNbeta-1b group showed more withdrawals (19%) compared with Avonex (6%) and Rebif (7%) at 6 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, I-70124, Bari, Italy. mtrojano@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolicelli
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zimatore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Robertis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuiani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Monte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a