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Does interferon beta therapy affect survival of multiple sclerosis patients?
Alina Kułakowska1, Wiesław Drozdowski1
1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (SM) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Its etiology has not been fully elucidated. For approximately 20 years, drugs have been used, successfully modifying the natural course of relapsing-remitting SM. One of them is interferon beta. Research outcomes of 16- and 21-year-retrospective follow-up of patients who participated in the pivotal interferon beta-1b trial were reported in 2010 and 2012, respectively. After 21 years, mortality rate among patients treated in the first 5 years with interferon beta-1b at a dose of 250μg was significantly lower, irrespective of the cause, as compared to the placebo-controlled group. Interferon beta-1b administered during the first 5 years of the study decreased the risk of death by 46.8% as compared to the placebo patients. Moreover, the studies also confirmed safety of long-term interferon beta-1b therapy. However, not much is known about the effect of interferon beta-1a on patients' survival - the available data are presented in the article.
Insights
Long-term treatment with interferon beta-1b in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients significantly reduced mortality rates. Early administration of this therapy for five years demonstrated a 46.8% decreased risk of death compared to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system disease.
- Interferon beta therapies modify the course of relapsing-remitting MS.
- Long-term effects of interferon beta-1a on survival are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term impact of interferon beta-1b on patient survival.
- To assess the safety of prolonged interferon beta-1b treatment.
- To present available data on interferon beta-1a's effect on survival.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective follow-up of patients from a pivotal interferon beta-1b trial.
- Analysis of 16- and 21-year follow-up data.
- Comparison of mortality rates between interferon beta-1b treated groups and placebo group.
Main Results:
- A significantly lower mortality rate was observed in patients treated with interferon beta-1b (250μg) during the first five years, compared to placebo.
- Interferon beta-1b administration in the initial five years reduced the risk of death by 46.8%.
- Long-term interferon beta-1b therapy was confirmed to be safe.
Conclusions:
- Early and sustained interferon beta-1b treatment improves survival in multiple sclerosis patients.
- Interferon beta-1b is a safe and effective long-term therapy for MS.
- Further research is needed on interferon beta-1a's impact on MS patient survival.
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