title: Predicting beta-interferon failure in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Proposed beta-interferon (IFNbeta) treatment failure criteria for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have not been validated in clinical practice. This study aimed to establish (a) whether IFNbeta attenuated accumulation of fixed disability in comparison to a cohort of matched historical control subjects from the Sylvia Lawry centre for MS research, and (b) whether relapse-based treatment failure criteria or clinical and demographic variables had predictive value for the accumulation of fixed disability. Of the 175 IFNbeta-treated RRMS patients, 60 (34%) developed accumulation of fixed disability over a median of five years follow-up, which was significantly less than the rate of accumulation of fixed disability in the control group (P<0.0001). Any relapse in the treatment period predicted accumulation of fixed disability with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 43%; patients totally relapse free were less likely to develop accumulation of fixed disability (P <0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that a greater risk of accumulation of fixed disability was conferred by a higher Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score starting IFNbeta (P=0.02), and by failure of IFNbeta to completely suppress relapses (P=0.004). In conclusion, IFNbeta therapy reduced the accumulation of fixed disability in a cohort of RRMS patients, followed for a median of five years. Higher baseline EDSS and failure of complete relapse suppression were associated with a significantly greater likelihood of accumulation of fixed disability.
authors: Department of Neurology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: O'Rourke
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Walsh
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Antonelli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta