title: Long-term results of immunomodulatory treatment in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis: the Italian experience.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi Sclerosi Multipla, Ospedale di Gallarate, Via Pastori 4, 20013, Gallarate, Italy. angelo.ghezzi@aogallarate.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Annovazzi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: La Mantia
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marrosu
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moiola
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaffaroni
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a