title: Weekly IM interferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis patients over 50 years of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efficacy and safety data have not previously been compiled for intramuscular interferon beta-1a (IM IFNβ-1a) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) ≥ 50 years of age. We investigated the efficacy and safety of IM IFNβ-1a in patients segregated by 50 and 40 years of age in separate meta-analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MS Clinical Research Group Study, the Controlled High-Risk Subjects AVONEX(®) (IM IFNβ-1a) MS Prevention Study, the IFNβ-1a European Dose-Comparison Study, and a multicenter, open-label antigenicity and safety study of human serum albumin-free IM IFNβ-1a were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 906 patients (68 aged ≥ 50 years and 838 aged <50 years, or 323 aged ≥ 40 years and 583 aged <40 years) received IM IFNβ-1a for ≥ 24 months. At baseline, patients ≥ 50 years had significantly higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores than patients <50 years (3.4 vs. 2.8; P < 0.001), but fewer relapses in the three preceding years (2.6 vs. 3.4; P < 0.001); patients ≥ 40 years and <40 years exhibited similar differences. After 2 years of treatment, there were no significant differences in annualized relapse rate, sustained disability progression, time to sustained disability progression, or number of MRI-identified gadolinium-enhanced lesions between age groups in either analysis. The cumulative probability of relapse was significantly lower in patients ≥ 40 years versus patients <40 years (0.601 vs. 0.702; P < 0.001). Adverse event incidence did not differ significantly between age groups in either analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IM IFNβ-1a is effective and well tolerated in patients with MS ≥ 40 and ≥ 50 years as well as younger patients.
authors: Department of Neurology and Pain Medicine, Koventhospital Barmherzige Brüder Linz, Linz, Austria. christian.lampl@bblinz.at
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lampl
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authors: You
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authors: Limmroth
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a