Measures in the first year of therapy predict the response to interferon beta in MS.
OBJECTIVE
Several criteria for treatment response to interferon beta (IFNbeta) have been proposed, although there is no consensus among different investigators. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical predictors of response during the first 12 months of therapy.


METHODS
This is a prospective and longitudinal study of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with IFNbeta. Patients were classified based on the presence of new lesions on MRI, relapses, confirmed disability increase, or combinations of all these variables after 1 year of therapy. Regression analysis was performed in order to identify variables of response after a follow-up of 3 years.


RESULTS
We included 222 RRMS patients. The logistic model demonstrated that only the combination of new active lesions on MRI with the presence of relapses (OR 4.4; 95% CI 1.6-12.5) or disability progression (Odds Ratio (OR) 7.1; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.6-33.9), or both (OR 6.5; 95% CI 1.9-23.4) achieved significant values to identify those patients with a poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
In RRMS patients treated with IFNbeta, the combination of measures of disease activity and the presence of new active lesions on MRI may have a prognostic value for identifying patients with disease activity in the second and third year of therapy.
Río
J
J
Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clinica, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. jrio@vhebron.net
Castilló
J
J
Rovira
A
A
Tintoré
M
M
Sastre-Garriga
J
J
Horga
A
A
Nos
C
C
Comabella
M
M
Aymerich
X
X
Montalbán
X
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta