title: Early predictors of non-response to interferon in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify early clinical and MRI predictors of non-response to interferon (IFN) treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 172 patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated with IFNβ, we evaluated prediction of future treatment non-response. Candidate predictors comprised disability and its sustained progression, relapse score (combining frequency and severity of relapses), brain volume change, brain parenchymal fraction, number of new T2 lesions, and T2 and T1 lesion volume within the initial year of treatment. Treatment non-response was evaluated as confirmed disability progression or overall average annual relapse score exceeding 1 over the following 5 years. Logistic regression model was adjusted for patient age, gender, disease duration and changes in treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety patients (52%) reached the status of IFN non-responders in years 2-6. Patients with ≥1 new T2 lesion and relapse score ≥2 (odds ratio ≥5.7) or those with ≥3 new T2 lesions regardless of the relapse score (odds ratio = 3) were in a significantly higher risk of future treatment non-response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with MS treated with IFNβ for 1 year, number of new T2 lesions and annualized relapse score predict individual risk of treatment non-response over the following 5 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Center of Clinical Neuroscience, General University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Horakova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalincik
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dolezal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krasensky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaneckova
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Havrdova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta