Neuropsychological assessment, quantitative MRI and ApoE gene polymorphisms in a series of MS patients treated with IFN beta-1b.
Few trials issued the effect of disease-modifying medications on cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis. We designed an open-label longitudinal study to evaluate, during 2 years, cognitive performance and its relationship with MRI data and ApoE polymorphism findings in a group of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) Interferon (IFN) beta-1b-treated patients (median age 30 years, median disease duration 3.4 years). Complete neuropsychological battery was grouped into attention, information learning/memory, language and visuo-spatial functions. Fifty-two patients (33 females) were enrolled in the study. Six patients (11.5%) dropped out, mainly due to side effects. At baseline neuropsychological evaluation, we found 54% normal, 42% mildly impaired and 4% moderately impaired patients. At 2 years follow-up, cognitive status was stable in 65%, improved in 33% and worsened in 2% of patients. No significant relations were found between global cognitive outcome vs. EDSS change, clinical disease activity, MRI data or ApoE gene polymorphisms over the 2 years follow-up. EDSS and MRI fractional volumes were found to correlate with the performance at single tests. Twenty-one patients (45.6%) showed active MRI scans throughout the study, without any worsening at the corresponding neuropsychological examination. This ongoing trial suggests a possible beneficial effect of IFN beta-1b treatment on cognitive functions in RRMS patients. Extension of follow-up and further data analyses are needed to confirm and clarify these findings.
Lanzillo
Roberta
R
Department of Neurological Sciences, Federico II University, Via Pansini, 5 80131 Naples, Italy. robertalanzillo@libero.it
Prinster
Anna
A
Scarano
Valentina
V
Liuzzi
Raffaele
R
Coppola
Giovanni
G
Florio
Ciro
C
Salvatore
Elena
E
Schiavone
Vittorio
V
Brunetti
Arturo
A
Muto
Mario
M
Orefice
Giuseppe
G
Alfano
Bruno
B
Bonavita
Vincenzo
V
Brescia Morra
Vincenzo
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta