title: The effect of intramuscular interferon beta-1a on spinal cord volume in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Spinal cord atrophy occurs early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and impacts disability. The therapeutic effect of interferon beta-1a (IFNβ-1a) on spinal cord atrophy in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS has not been explored.
  
  
  
  We retrospectively identified 16 consecutive patients receiving weekly intramuscular IFNβ-1a for 2 years [baseline age (mean ± SD) 47.7 ± 7.5 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale score median (range) 1.5 (0-2.5), timed 25-foot walk 4.6 ± 0.7 seconds; time on treatment 68.3 ± 59.9 months] and 11 sex- and age-matched normal controls (NC). The spinal cord was imaged at baseline, 1 and 2 years later with 3T MRI. C1-C5 spinal cord volume was measured by an active surface method, from which normalized spinal cord area (SCA) was calculated.
  
  
  
  SCA showed no change in the MS or NC group over 2 years [mean annualized difference (95 % CI) MS: -0.604 mm2(-1.352, 0.144), p = 0.106; NC: -0.360 mm2(-1.576, 0.855), p = 0.524]. Between group analysis indicated no differences in on-study SCA change [MS vs. NC; year 1 vs. baseline, mean annualized difference (95 % CI) 0.400 mm2(-3.350, 2.549), p = 0.780; year 2 vs. year 1: -1.196 mm2(-0.875, 3.266), p = 0.245; year 2 vs. baseline -0.243 mm2(-1.120, 1.607), p = 0.712].
  
  
  
  Established IFNβ-1a therapy was not associated with ongoing spinal cord atrophy or any difference in the rate of spinal cord volume change in RRMS compared to NC over 2 years. These results may reflect a treatment effect. However, due to sample size and study design, these results should be considered preliminary and await confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sheena L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dupuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Fariha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neema
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Shahamat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tauhid
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rbakshi@post.harvard.edu.|Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, Partners MS Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rbakshi@post.harvard.edu.|Laboratory for Neuroimaging Research, One Brookline Place, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA. rbakshi@post.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8601-5534
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakshi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: Interferon beta-1a; MRI; Multiple sclerosis; Spinal cord atrophy