Abstract | BACKGROUND: Treatment with interferon beta has been shown to help patients with established multiple sclerosis, but it is not known whether initiating treatment at the time of a first clinical demyelinating event is of value. METHODS: RESULTS: During three years of follow-up, the cumulative probability of the development of clinically definite multiple sclerosis was significantly lower in the interferon beta-1a group than in the placebo group (rate ratio, 0.56; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.38 to 0.81; P=0.002). As compared with the patients in the placebo group, patients in the interferon beta-1a group had a relative reduction in the volume of brain lesions (P<0.001), fewer new or enlarging lesions (P<0.001), and fewer gadolinium-enhancing lesions (P<0.001) at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating treatment with interferon beta-1a at the time of a first demyelinating event is beneficial for patients with brain lesions on MRI that indicate a high risk of clinically definite multiple sclerosis.
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Authors | L D Jacobs, R W Beck, J H Simon, R P Kinkel, C M Brownscheidle, T J Murray, N A Simonian, P J Slasor, A W Sandrock |
Journal | The New England journal of medicine
(N Engl J Med)
Vol. 343
Issue 13
Pg. 898-904
(Sep 28 2000)
ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States |
PMID | 11006365
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies
- Interferon-beta
- Interferon beta-1a
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antibodies
(blood)
- Brain
(pathology)
- Cerebellar Diseases
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Double-Blind Method
- Female
- Humans
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Interferon beta-1a
- Interferon-beta
(adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multiple Sclerosis
(complications, drug therapy, immunology)
- Myelitis, Transverse
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Optic Neuritis
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Probability
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