Objective: To analyze the experience in daily clinical practice of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) treatment in relapsing-remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) multiple sclerosis (MS) in Galicia (Spain).
Patients and methods: Patients with RR-MS and SP-MS treated with IFN-beta1a and 1b between 1995 and December/2000, analyzing demographic and clinical data.
Results: 313 patients were included, with a mean age of 38.2 years. A total of 296 patients (94.6%) were clinically defined MS and 17 (5.4%) were laboratory supported (Poser criteria); 84.6% of the patients were RR and 15.4% were SP. The mean duration of the disease prior to treatment was 7.06 years. Betaferon was used in 52.4% patients (115 RR-MS and 47 SP-MS), Avonex in 26% and Rebif in 21.6%. Relapse rate was reduced in 68.8% for the RR-MS for Betaferon-treated patients, 73.3% for Avonex treated and 35.7% for Rebif-treated patients. Betaferon reduced relapse rate in 50% for SP-MS. The global EDSS remained stable during IFN-beta treatment. During treatment, 33% of Betaferon, 60.5% of Avonex and 54.5% of Rebif-treated patients remained relapse-free. Treatment was suspended in 12.9% of Betaferon, 6.2% of Avonex, and 3% Rebif-treated patients. The most frequent causes of treatment suspension were increase in disability and in relapse count.
Conclusions: The present study supports the benefits of IFN-beta treatment in RR MS and SP MS in daily clinical practice, with reduction in relapses count and incapacity, good over-all tolerance and low incidence of serious adverse side-effects.