[Long term effect of interferon-beta on disease severity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term impact of interferon-beta (IFNbeta) therapy on disease severity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.


METHODS
We included 210 patients with RRMS and indication for immunomodulatory treatment followed up at least for nine years. We compared between treated and untreated groups: time since the beginning of the disease to reach EDSS 6.0 and time to conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Log-rank test was used to compare outcomes between groups, p < 0.05 were considered significant.


RESULTS
160 patients were IFNbeta-treated, 50 untreated. The percentage of patients that converted to SPMS after 9 years of follow-up was 7.1% for treated vs. 21.7% for untreated (p = 0.022; RR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.13-0.74). About 7.7% for IFNbeta-treated vs. 18.7% of untreated patients reached EDSS 6.0 after the period of follow-up (p = 0.032; RR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.16-0.95). Mean time to reach EDSS 6.0 was 8.1 years for IFNbeta-treated vs. 5.8 years for untreated patients (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Long term treatment with IFNbeta slows progression in MS measured by EDSS and time to conversion to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Patrucco
Liliana
L
Sección de Enfermedades Desmielinizantes, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. liliana.patrucco@hospitalitaliano.org.ar
Rojas
Juan Ignacio
JI
Cristiano
Edgardo
E
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta