Multiple Sclerosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Multiple Sclerosis, including details on diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prognosis.

A randomized study of two interferon-beta treatments in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Koch-Henriksen N, Sørensen PS, Christensen T, Frederiksen J, Ravnborg M, Jensen K, Heltberg A, Kristensen O, Stenager E, Petersen T, Hansen T,

Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. koch-henriksen@stofanet.dk

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the efficacy of interferon-beta (IFNbeta) treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) was influenced by type, dose, and frequency of administration. METHODS: From June 1996 through October 1997, the authors offered participation to all Danish RR-MS patients who met the following criteria: definite MS, at least two relapses within 2 years, age 18 to 55, and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of < or = 5.5. The study was multicenter, controlled, open-label, randomized, head-to-head comparing IFNbeta-1a 22 microg once a week (n = 143) with IFNbeta-1b 250 microg every other day (n = 158), both subcutaneously, for 24 months. Patients who declined randomization were offered treatment with IFNbeta-1b 250 microg every other day (n = 120). The primary end-points were the annualized relapse rate, the time to first relapse, and neutralizing antibody formation. The secondary endpoint was time to sustained progression. RESULTS: The annual relapse rates were virtually equal in the two arms of the randomized study (IFNbeta-1a: 0.70; IFNbeta-1b: 0.71); so were the time to first relapse and the time to sustained progression. In the nonrandomized patients (IFNbeta-1b), the annual relapse rate was not significantly different, but the time to progression was shorter. CONCLUSION: In this study, 250 microg interferon-beta-1b administered every other day did not prove clinically superior to once-a-week administration of 22 microg interferon-beta-1a.

Published 11 April 2006 in Neurology, 66(7): 1056-60.
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