OBJECTIVE: Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently receiving treatment with interferon (IFN)-beta. Early identification of nonresponder patients is crucial to try different therapeutic approaches. We investigated various criteria of treatment response to assess which criterion better identifies patients with a poor response. METHODS: We studied relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients treated with IFN-beta and followed them up for at least 2 years. Expanded Disability Status Score was scored every 3 months and relapses were recorded. We analyzed various criteria based on relapses, disability progression, or both. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-three patients were included. After 2 years of treatment, we observed a proportion of nonresponders, ranging from 7 to 49% depending on the stringency of the criteria used. Criteria based in disability progression had higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The hazard ratio for the development of marked disability after 6 years of treatment was 39.6 (95% confidence interval, 16.6-94.4) among the patients who fulfilled the criterion based only in disability progression. INTERPRETATION: Criteria of response to IFN-beta therapy in RRMS using disability progression are more clinically relevant than those based only in relapse rate. This finding may be important for the counseling and care of RRMS patients treated with IFN-beta.
OBJECTIVE: Many patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are currently receiving treatment with interferon (IFN)-beta. Early identification of nonresponder patients is crucial to try different therapeutic approaches. We investigated various criteria of treatment response to assess which criterion better identifies patients with a poor response. METHODS: We studied relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients treated with IFN-beta and followed them up for at least 2 years. Expanded Disability Status Score was scored every 3 months and relapses were recorded. We analyzed various criteria based on relapses, disability progression, or both. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-three patients were included. After 2 years of treatment, we observed a proportion of nonresponders, ranging from 7 to 49% depending on the stringency of the criteria used. Criteria based in disability progression had higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The hazard ratio for the development of marked disability after 6 years of treatment was 39.6 (95% confidence interval, 16.6-94.4) among the patients who fulfilled the criterion based only in disability progression. INTERPRETATION: Criteria of response to IFN-beta therapy in RRMS using disability progression are more clinically relevant than those based only in relapse rate. This finding may be important for the counseling and care of RRMS patients treated with IFN-beta.
Authors: Mike P Wattjes; Àlex Rovira; David Miller; Tarek A Yousry; Maria P Sormani; Maria P de Stefano; Mar Tintoré; Cristina Auger; Carmen Tur; Massimo Filippi; Maria A Rocca; Franz Fazekas; Ludwig Kappos; Chris Polman Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2015-09-15 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Maria Trojano; Mar Tintore; Xavier Montalban; Jan Hillert; Tomas Kalincik; Pietro Iaffaldano; Tim Spelman; Maria Pia Sormani; Helmut Butzkueven Journal: Nat Rev Neurol Date: 2017-01-13 Impact factor: 42.937
Authors: Eduardo Huarte; Agnieszka Rynda-Apple; Carol Riccardi; Jerod A Skyberg; Sarah Golden; Maryclare F Rollins; Andrew G Ramstead; Larissa O Jackiw; Massimo Maddaloni; David W Pascual Journal: J Autoimmun Date: 2011-10-22 Impact factor: 7.094
Authors: Claudio Gasperini; Luca Prosperini; Mar Tintoré; Maria Pia Sormani; Massimo Filippi; Jordi Rio; Jacqueline Palace; Maria A Rocca; Olga Ciccarelli; Frederik Barkhof; Jaume Sastre-Garriga; Hugo Vrenken; Jette L Frederiksen; Tarek A Yousry; Christian Enzinger; Alex Rovira; Ludwig Kappos; Carlo Pozzilli; Xavier Montalban; Nicola De Stefano Journal: Neurology Date: 2018-12-26 Impact factor: 9.910