Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Comi, G; Filippi, M; Barkhof, F; Durelli, L; Edan, G; Fernández, O; Hartung, H; Seeldrayers, P; Sørensen, PS; Rovaris, M; Martinelli, V; Hommes, OR; Early Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis Study Group.
Effect of early interferon treatment on conversion to definite multiple sclerosis: a randomised study.
Lancet. 2001; 357(9268):1576-1582
Doi: 10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2800%2904725-5
Web of Science
PubMed
FullText
FullText_MUG
- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Altmetrics:
- Dimensions Citations:
- Plum Analytics:
- Scite (citation analytics):
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Interferon beta reduces activity in multiple sclerosis as measured clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We assessed the effect of interferon beta-1a on the occurrence of relapses in patients after first presentation with neurological events, who are at high risk of conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Eligible patients had had a first episode of neurological dysfunction suggesting multiple sclerosis within the previous 3 months and had strongly suggestive brain MRI findings. Patients were randomly assigned interferon beta-1a 22 microg or placebo subcutaneously once weekly for 2 years. Neurological and clinical assessments were done every 6 months and brain MRI every 12 months. Analyses excluded one patient assigned placebo who received no study injections. FINDINGS: 241 (78%) of 308 randomised patients received study treatment for 2 years; 278 (90%) remained in the study until termination. 57 (85%) of 67 who stopped therapy did so after conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis. Fewer patients developed clinically definite multiple sclerosis in the interferon group than in the placebo group (52/154 [34%] vs 69/154 [45%]; p=0.047). The time at which 30% of patients had converted to clinically definite multiple sclerosis was 569 days in the interferon group and 252 in the placebo group (p=0.034). The annual relapse rates were 0.33 and 0.43 (p=0.045). The number of new T2-weighted MRI lesions and the increase in lesion burden were significantly lower with active treatment. INTERPRETATION: Interferon beta-1a treatment at an early stage of multiple sclerosis had significant positive effects on clinical and MRI outcomes.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Adolescent -
- Adult -
- Double-Blind Method -
- Drug Administration Schedule -
- Europe -
- Female -
- Follow-Up Studies -
- Humans -
- Injections, Subcutaneous -
- Interferon-beta - administration and dosage
- Logistic Models - administration and dosage
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
- Male - methods
- Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis
- Multivariate Analysis - diagnosis
- Physical Examination - diagnosis
- Recurrence - diagnosis
- Reference Values - diagnosis
- Severity of Illness Index - diagnosis
- Treatment Outcome - diagnosis