Treatment of multiple sclerosis with beta-interferon 1a

Introduction and objective. Preliminary studies (phase III) have shown that treatment with beta-interferon la (avonex) is effective in diverse aspects of relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The present study discusses results of an opened prolonged (phase IV) trial at the Baylor/Methodist International Multiple Sclerosis Center using 6 MIU by intramuscular injection once a week. Patients and methods. Clinical measurements: EDSS and Patient's Subjective Self-Evaluation (PSSE) and magnetic resonance (MR) were utilized every three months in 300 patients studied between 1996-1999. Patients with RRMS (71.8%) and secondarily progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) (28.2%) were included. Results. Global clinical improvement parameter integration was 22.7% and clinical stabilization 39.4%. MR did not show quantitative alterations for either group. Sixteen patients abandoned treatment and 16 (5.3%) had relapses correlated by MR activity; 34.9% remained stable by EDSS and magnetic resonance findings but deteriorated subjectively by PSSE (62% has SPMS). Conclusion. This phase IV study indicates that prolonged treatment of RRMS and SPMS with avonex maintains a positive effect in 62.1% of patients.