title: Effects of interferon beta-1b on cognitive performance in patients with a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive dysfunction occurs at the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the stage of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the impact of interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b) 250 µg on cognitive performance during the CIS stage in the BENEFITstudy. Cognition was assessed by Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3" (PASAT-3") scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvement in PASAT-3" score from baseline to year two was greater for IFNβ-1b treatment than placebo in patients not reaching clinically definite MS (CDMS) by year two. The treatment effect was maintained at year five and was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To conclude, early IFNβ-1b treatment had a sustained positive effect on PASAT-3" score over the 5-year BENEFIT study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Psychology and Methodology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 60/62, Basel, Switzerland. ik.penner@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Iris-Katharina
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stemper
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Chris H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edan
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalbán
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pleimes
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lanius
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandbrink
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta