BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis: experience in a British specialist multiple sclerosis centre. 2003

B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of interferon beta (IFN beta) is well established in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the use of this drug in clinical practice is complex, especially because it is only partially effective, its long term efficacy and side effects are unknown, its efficacy may be abrogated by the development of neutralising antibodies, compliance is variable, and its cost effectiveness is controversial. OBJECTIVE Analysis of a prospectively followed up series of 101 MS patients treated with IFN beta was undertaken to: (1) monitor the outcome of IFN beta treatment in clinical practice; (2) compare the immunogenicity of the three commercial IFN beta preparations available; (3) assess the proportion of patients fulfilling the current guidelines of the Association of British Neurologists for stopping IFN beta therapy. RESULTS During a median treatment period of 26 months (range 2-85), the relapse rate decreased by 41%. Although the reduction in the relapse rate was similar for all three commercial products, none of the Avonex treated patients were relapse free, compared with 19% of the Betaferon treated and 27% of the Rebif treated patients (p=0.02). Neutralising antibodies were not detected in Avonex treated patients (0 of 18), compared with 12 of 32 (38%) Betaferon treated and 10 of 23 (44%) Rebif treated patients (p=0.02). Forty of 101 (40%) patients satisfied the current (2001) Association of British Neurologists criteria for stopping IFN beta treatment at some stage during their treatment. CONCLUSIONS IFN beta is effective in reducing the relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting MS in routine clinical practice. However, after a median treatment duration of 26 months, 40% of initially relapsing-remitting MS patients seem to have ongoing disease activity, presenting as disabling relapses or insidious progression.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009103 Multiple Sclerosis An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903) MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D010349 Patient Compliance Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen. Client Adherence,Client Compliance,Non-Adherent Patient,Patient Adherence,Patient Cooperation,Patient Noncompliance,Patient Non-Adherence,Patient Non-Compliance,Patient Nonadherence,Therapeutic Compliance,Treatment Compliance,Adherence, Client,Adherence, Patient,Client Compliances,Compliance, Client,Compliance, Patient,Compliance, Therapeutic,Compliance, Treatment,Cooperation, Patient,Non Adherent Patient,Non-Adherence, Patient,Non-Adherent Patients,Non-Compliance, Patient,Nonadherence, Patient,Noncompliance, Patient,Patient Non Adherence,Patient Non Compliance,Patient, Non-Adherent,Therapeutic Compliances,Treatment Compliances
D010507 Periodicity The tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain activities (including hormonal, cellular, neural) may be annual, seasonal, monthly, daily, or more frequently (ultradian). Cyclicity,Rhythmicity,Biological Rhythms,Bioperiodicity,Biorhythms,Biological Rhythm,Bioperiodicities,Biorhythm,Cyclicities,Periodicities,Rhythm, Biological,Rhythmicities,Rhythms, Biological
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D004739 England A part of Great Britain within the United Kingdom.
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000276 Adjuvants, Immunologic Substances that augment, stimulate, activate, potentiate, or modulate the immune response at either the cellular or humoral level. The classical agents (Freund's adjuvant, BCG, Corynebacterium parvum, et al.) contain bacterial antigens. Some are endogenous (e.g., histamine, interferon, transfer factor, tuftsin, interleukin-1). Their mode of action is either non-specific, resulting in increased immune responsiveness to a wide variety of antigens, or antigen-specific, i.e., affecting a restricted type of immune response to a narrow group of antigens. The therapeutic efficacy of many biological response modifiers is related to their antigen-specific immunoadjuvanticity. Immunoactivators,Immunoadjuvant,Immunoadjuvants,Immunologic Adjuvant,Immunopotentiator,Immunopotentiators,Immunostimulant,Immunostimulants,Adjuvant, Immunologic,Adjuvants, Immunological,Immunologic Adjuvants,Immunological Adjuvant,Adjuvant, Immunological,Immunological Adjuvants

Related Publications

B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: an eight years experience in a specialist multiple sclerosis centre.
July 2006, Journal of neurology,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. An eight years experience in a specialist multiple sclerosis centre.
July 2005, Journal of neurology,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
[Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis].
January 2003, Revista de neurologia,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis.
August 1999, Lancet (London, England),
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis.
August 1999, Lancet (London, England),
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis.
November 1996, BMJ (Clinical research ed.),
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis.
October 1996, Clinical immunology and immunopathology,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis.
April 1993, Neurology,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
Long-term experience with interferon beta-1b (Betaferon)in multiple sclerosis.
September 2005, Journal of neurology,
B D Dubois, and E Keenan, and B E Porter, and R Kapoor, and P Rudge, and A J Thompson, and D H Miller, and G Giovannoni
[Interferon beta 1-a in multiple sclerosis: 1-year experience in 62 patients].
June 2000, Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria,
Copied contents to your clipboard!