Treatment of early onset multiple sclerosis with suboptimal dose of interferon beta-1a.
BACKGROUND
Patients with early onset multiple sclerosis may develop disability at a younger age than adults. There are several reports about safety of beta interferons in childhood and juvenile MS with different doses.


OBJECTIVE
To determine safety and efficacy of substandard dose of intramuscular interferon beta-1a in a prospective randomized trial in patients with multiple sclerosis under the age of 16.


METHODS
Sixteen patients were divided into two groups randomly. The first group was treated with intramuscular interferon beta-1a 15 micrograms once a week and the second group received no disease-modifying therapy.


RESULTS
The patients were followed for four years. There was no significant side effect and none of the treated patients discontinued the drug. There were significant differences between two groups regarding relapse rates (p = 0.04), disability progression (p = 0.01), and new T2 lesions (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with interferon beta-1a is well tolerated for a long period of time and may be effective in substandard doses in early onset multiple sclerosis.
Pakdaman
H
H
Neurology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Fallah
A
A
Sahraian
M A
MA
Pakdaman
R
R
Meysamie
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000379:methods; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta