Long-term results of immunomodulatory treatment in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis: the Italian experience.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of immunomodulatory agents (IMAs) (Interferon-Beta, Glatiramer Acetate) in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with disease onset in childhood or adolescence, treated before 16 years of age, after a long-term follow-up. A total of 130 patients were identified, 77 were treated with Avonex, 39 with Rebif/Betaferon, 14 with Copaxone. After a mean (SD) treatment duration of 53.6 +/- 27.0, 59.9 +/- 39.5 and 74.6 +/- 35.5 months, respectively, the relapse rate decreased significantly. The final EDSS score was unchanged with respect to the initial score. Similar results were also observed in subjects who continued a long-term follow-up after they were included in an observational study in 2004, and in subjects who were treated before 12 years of age. The frequency of clinical and laboratory adverse events was similar to that observed in adult patients. To conclude, IMAs were effective and well tolerated in paediatric patients with MS.
Ghezzi
Angelo
A
Centro Studi Sclerosi Multipla, Ospedale di Gallarate, Via Pastori 4, 20013, Gallarate, Italy. angelo.ghezzi@aogallarate.it
Amato
Maria Pia
MP
Annovazzi
Pietro
P
Capobianco
Marco
M
Gallo
Paolo
P
La Mantia
Loredana
L
Marrosu
Maria Giovanna
MG
Martinelli
Vittorio
V
Milani
Nicoletta
N
Moiola
Lucia
L
Patti
Francesco
F
Pozzilli
Carlo
C
Trojano
Maria
M
Zaffaroni
Mauro
M
Comi
Giancarlo
G
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a