title: [Glatiramer acetate in interferon beta non respondent relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are 4 immunomodulator treatments approved as first line therapy for patients with re-lapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The objective of this study is to assess if glatiramer acetate (GA) is useful or not in patients who have discontinued interferon beta due to a suboptimal response or adverse events.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational and retrospective study in RRMS patients who discontinued IFN-beta therapy (2.9+/-2.4 years of treatment) and switched to GA (1.9+/-1.4 years). They were classified in 2 groups depending on the reason for discontinuation: suboptimal response or side effects. In both treatments we analysed number of relapses, treatment duration and causes of discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 58 patients of which 20 discontinued IFN-beta for lack of effectiveness whereas 38 were due to adverse events. Patients who discontinued for suboptimal response changed from 1.38 +/- 0.95 relapses per year with IFN-beta to 0.52+/-0.86 with GA. Patients who discontinued for adverse events changed from 0.33 +/- 0.64 relapses per year with IFN-beta to 0.37+/-0.79 with GA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GA can be considered a good alternative treatment for MS patients with a suboptimal response or adverse events with IFN-beta which confirms the existence of different mechanisms of action in both drugs.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurologia, Unidad de Neuroinmunologia Clínica y Esclerosis Múltiple, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid. unidadem.lapaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oreja-Guevara
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miralles
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gabaldón
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Díez-Tejedor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta