title: Heterogeneity in response to interferon beta in patients with multiple sclerosis: a 3-year monthly imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the heterogeneity in magnetic resonance image (MRI) patterns of response to interferon beta across patients with multiple sclerosis or within an individual patient over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis underwent monthly MRIs and clinical examinations (6-month pretherapy phase and 36-month therapy phase) and bimonthly neutralizing antibody tests. On each MRI, the total number of contrast-enhancing lesions was noted. Therapy MRI responders were defined as those with a reduction of 60% or more in the total number of contrast-enhancing lesions during each semester of therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subcutaneous administration of interferon beta-1b, 250 microg, every other day for 3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reduction in the number of contrast-enhancing lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (53.3%) were MRI responders and 7 (46.7%) were nonresponders. Of those 7, 3 (20.0%) had only an initial optimal reduction of the total number of contrast-enhancing lesions, 2 (13.3%) never reached an optimal response, and 2 (13.3%) had a delayed optimal response. No clear association between neutralizing antibody profile and MRI response was evident.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple MRI evaluations disclose that approximately only half of the patients treated with interferon beta achieve and maintain a full response to the drug over time, although an additional small number of individuals may still restore an optimal response to the drug after an initial failure.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1400, USA.
authors.forename: Annie W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Richert
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ehrmantraut
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohayon
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bomboi
authors.forename: Deeya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaindh
authors.forename: Fredric K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta