Skip to main content
Log in

Interferon β1a (Avonex®) treatment in multiple sclerosis: similarity of effect on progression of disability in patients with mild and moderate disability

  • ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION
  • Published:
Journal of Neurology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective To compare clinical responses to once-weekly intramuscular interferon-β-1 a [IFNβ-1 a, Avonex®, Biogen] in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ≤ 3.5 or > 3.5. Methods Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 124 with baseline EDSS ≥ 3.5 and 64 RRMS patients with EDSS > 3.5, were consecutively recruited to receive IFNβ-1 a 30 μg as a once weekly injection for 18 months. The primary endpoint of the study was the number of patients in each group with sustained worsening in disability, defined as 1-point deterioration in EDSS that persisted for at least 6 months during the 18 month follow-up period. Subordinate endpoints included relapse rates and the number of treatment dropouts. Results Among patients with baseline EDSS ≤ 3.5, 16.9 % experienced a deterioration in EDSS of at least 1 point ; 22.5 % experienced a deterioration of at least 0.5 %. Corresponding rates in patients with baseline EDSS > 3.5 were 23.4 % and 29 % respectively (no significant differences between patients stratified according to baseline EDSS status). The proportion of patients discontinuing therapy was significantly higher in patients with baseline EDSS > 3.5 than in those with baseline EDSS ≤ 3.5 (16/64 versus 12/124 ; p = 0.005). At the conclusion of follow-up, IFNβ-1 a therapy was associated with a 31.7 % reduction in relapse rate in patients with baseline EDSS ≤ 3.5 and a 37 % reduction in those with baseline EDSS > 3.5 (difference not significant). Conclusions During 18 months of treatment and follow-up, no difference was observed in clinical responses to IFNβ-1 a between RRMS patients with mild and moderate disability but discontinuation of therapy was more frequent in the more disabled group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Consortia

Additional information

Received: 9 June 2000, Received in revised form: 29 May 2001, Accepted: 12 June 2001

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vermersch, P., de Seze, J., Stojkovic, T. et al. Interferon β1a (Avonex®) treatment in multiple sclerosis: similarity of effect on progression of disability in patients with mild and moderate disability. J Neurol 249, 184–187 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00007862

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00007862

Navigation