Original Article

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New natural history of interferon-β–treated relapsing multiple sclerosis

  1. Maria Trojano MD1,*,
  2. Fabio Pellegrini MscStat2,
  3. Aurora Fuiani MD1,
  4. Damiano Paolicelli MD1,
  5. Valentina Zipoli MD3,
  6. Giovanni B. Zimatore MD1,
  7. Elisabetta Di Monte MD1,
  8. Emilio Portaccio MD3,
  9. Vito Lepore MD1,
  10. Paolo Livrea MD1,
  11. Maria Pia Amato MD3

Article first published online: 19 APR 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ana.21102

Issue

Annals of Neurology

Annals of Neurology

Volume 61, Issue 4, pages 300–306, April 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Trojano, M., Pellegrini, F., Fuiani, A., Paolicelli, D., Zipoli, V., Zimatore, G. B., Di Monte, E., Portaccio, E., Lepore, V., Livrea, P. and Amato, M. P. (2007), New natural history of interferon-β–treated relapsing multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol., 61: 300–306. doi: 10.1002/ana.21102

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Neurology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

*Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124, Bari, Italy

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 APR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 19 APR 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 JAN 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 30 DEC 2006

Funded by

  • Italian University and Research Ministry. Grant Number: COFIN 2001–2004
  • Fondozione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the impact of interferon-beta (IFNβ) on disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients.

Methods

A cohort of 1,504 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (1,103 IFNβ–treated and 401 untreated) patients was followed for up to 7 years. Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for propensity score inverse weighting was used to assess the differences between the two groups for three different clinical end points: secondary progression (SP) and irreversible Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores 4 and 6. Times from first visit and from date of birth were used as survival time variables.

Results

The IFNβ–treated group showed a highly significant reduction in the incidence of SP (hazard ratio [HR], 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24–0.58 for time from 1st visit; HR, 0.36, 95% CI, 0.23–0.56 for time from date of birth; p < 0.0001), EDSS score of 4 (HR, 0.70, 95% CI, 0.53–0.94 for time from first visit; HR, 0.69, 95% CI, 0.52–0.93 for time from date of birth; p < 0.02), and EDSS score of 6 (HR, 0.60, 95% CI, 0.38–0.95 for time from first visit; HR, 0.54, 95% CI, 0.34–0.86 for time from date of birth; p ≤ 0.03) when compared with untreated patients. SP and EDSS scores of 4 and 6 were reached with significant delays estimated by times from first visit (3.8, 1.7, and 2.2 years) and from date of birth (8.7, 4.6, and 11.7 years) in favor of treated patients. Sensitivity analysis confirmed findings.

Interpretation

IFN-β slows progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Ann Neurol 2007;61:300–306

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