title: Therapeutic effect of Avonex, Rebif and Betaferon on quality of life in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various disease-modifying therapies (DMT) on quality of life in multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a three-arm parallel study with balanced randomization in which 90 newly diagnosed, definite MS subjects referred to Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad, Iran were enrolled between 2006 and 2009. Patients were randomly allocated into three DMT groups: Avonex, Rebif and Betaferon. Health-related quality of life was assessed in MS patients at baseline and 12 months after treatment with DMT using the MS Quality of Life-54 questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both mental and physical health scores improved within all three treatment groups after 12 months of treatment; however, this increase was only significant in the mental health composite in the Betaferon group (P = 0.024). Betaferon had the highest mental health score change (14.04) while this change was 7.26 for Avonex (P = 0.031) and 5.08 for Rebif (P = 0.017). A physical health composite score comparison among the three treatment groups revealed no significant results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a positive impact of DMT on mental and physical dimensions of QOL in MS patients, initiation of treatment soon after diagnosis is recommended. In MS patients with more mental issues and fewer physical disabilities, Betaferon might be considered as a better choice of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Naghmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mokhber
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.|Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment Collaborative, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azarpazhooh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orouji
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khorram
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modares Gharavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Sorayya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khallaghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Azarpazhooh
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: disease-modifying therapies; multiple sclerosis; quality of life