Interferon-beta(1b) treatment in neuromyelitis optica.
BACKGROUND
The effects of interferon-beta(1b) (IFN-beta(1b)) administration in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been confirmed, however, those in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients have not been shown. In this study, we assessed the effects of IFN-beta(1b) treatment on disease exacerbation and disability progression in MS or NMO patients.


METHODS
We reviewed a series of 104 consecutive patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (69) or NMO (35) treated with IFN-beta(1b) in the MS clinical center of a national hospital in Japan.


RESULTS
The relapse number in the RRMS patients significantly decreased within 1 year after IFN-beta(1b) treatment (p < 0.00001); however, that in the NMO patients did not show a significant decrease (p = 0.5601). The decrease in annualized relapse rates in each RRMS patient after treatment was significant (p < 0.01), but that in each NMO patient was not (p > 0.05). The change in Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale score 1 year after treatment was higher in the NMO patients than in the RRMS patients (p = 0.0225).


CONCLUSIONS
In NMO patients, IFN-beta(1b) treatment was not effective in reducing the relapse number and the disability progression.
Tanaka
Masami
M
MS Center, Utano National Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. tanaka@unh.hosp.go.jp
Tanaka
Keiko
K
Komori
Mika
M
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta