Experiences of lnterferon Beta-1b Treatment After 5-Year Follow-U

Abstract

lnterferon beta-1b is the first drug found to slow relapse rate of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. There have been many studies to find out the effectiviness of this drug in the last decade. The aims of our study are (1) to compare the changes in relapse rate (2) to compare the number of days of hospitalisation, (3) to compare the steroid needs required to treat relapses for two years before and for two and five years during interferon beta-1b treatment, and (4) to evaluate the adverse effects of interferon beta-1b. The present study involved 29 relapsing-remitting patients treated with interferon beta-1b for at least 2 years. They had at least 2 relapses for the last 2 years before interferon beta-1b treatment. Mean age of onset was 27.20±7.20 (72-40) years. Mean relapse rate was decreased from 2.24±0.51 per patient to 0.44±0.68 per patient in the second years and O.61±1.02 per patient in the fifth year. 76% of patients were relapse free in the second year of the tretment and 50% in the fifth year of the treatment. The duration of hospitalisation decreased by 78.7% and 70.5% in the second and fifth years respectively (p<0.007). The amount of methylprednisolone needed for remission decreased by 82% in the fifth year. No serious side effect was observed during treatment. We concluded that interferon beta-1b is still effective and very tolerable after five years.