Clinical response to interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis patients: a Brazilian cohort.
BACKGROUND
Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently receiving treatment with interferon beta (IFNb) and glatiramer acetate (GA). Identifying nonresponders patients is important to define therapy strategies. Several criteria for treatment response to IFNb and GA have been proposed.


OBJECTIVE
It was to investigate the response to treatment with IFNb-1a, IFNb-1b and GA among relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.


METHODS
We analyzed treatment response to IFNb and GA in ninety-one RRMS patients followed for at least one year. Clinical response was established by clinical criteria based on relapses, disability progression or both.


RESULTS
We observed a proportion of nonresponders, ranging from 3.3 to 42.9%, depending on the stringency of the criteria used.


CONCLUSIONS
Our sample of Brazilian patients with MS has similarities when compared to other studies and there was no statistically significant difference regarding age, gender, ethnicity or disease duration between responders and nonresponders.
Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
Valéria Coelho Santa Rita
VC
Pereira
Fabíola Rachid
FR
Malfetano
Isabella D'Andrea
ID
Meira
Letícia Fêzer de
LF
Souza
Assuncion Martinez
AM
Liem
Angelo
A
Maiolino
Soniza Vieira
SV
Alves-Leon
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010455:Peptides; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a