BACKGROUND: Contrast enhancing lesions (CELs) in MRI represent inflammatory events in multiple sclerosis (MS). IFN-beta-1b decreases the formation of CELs. However, the ability of IFN-beta-1b to reduce the size of CELs arising during therapy has not been extensively investigated. METHODS: Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS were followed for a 3-month pre-therapy phase then for a 6-month therapy phase during which treatment with IFN-beta-1b at a dosage of 250 microg subcutaneously injected every other day was employed. Each patient underwent monthly clinical and MRI examinations. For all patients, CELs were identified on postcontrast T1-weighted MRIs. CEL number, size, and volume were computed using Medx software. RESULTS: The average number and total lesion volume of CELs visible during the therapy phase were significantly lower than the number and total lesion volume of CELs observed in the pre-therapy phase. However, there was no significant reduction between pre-therapy and therapy phases in the mean size of individual lesions arising during the respective phases. CONCLUSIONS: Since size of CELs has been related to severity of tissue damage, the lack of size decrease during therapy suggested a limited therapeutic effect of IFN-beta-1b if a blood-brain barrier breakdown has occurred.
BACKGROUND: Contrast enhancing lesions (CELs) in MRI represent inflammatory events in multiple sclerosis (MS). IFN-beta-1b decreases the formation of CELs. However, the ability of IFN-beta-1b to reduce the size of CELs arising during therapy has not been extensively investigated. METHODS: Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS were followed for a 3-month pre-therapy phase then for a 6-month therapy phase during which treatment with IFN-beta-1b at a dosage of 250 microg subcutaneously injected every other day was employed. Each patient underwent monthly clinical and MRI examinations. For all patients, CELs were identified on postcontrast T1-weighted MRIs. CEL number, size, and volume were computed using Medx software. RESULTS: The average number and total lesion volume of CELs visible during the therapy phase were significantly lower than the number and total lesion volume of CELs observed in the pre-therapy phase. However, there was no significant reduction between pre-therapy and therapy phases in the mean size of individual lesions arising during the respective phases. CONCLUSIONS: Since size of CELs has been related to severity of tissue damage, the lack of size decrease during therapy suggested a limited therapeutic effect of IFN-beta-1b if a blood-brain barrier breakdown has occurred.
Authors: S Gupta; J M Solomon; T A Tasciyan; M M Cao; R D Stone; J L Ostuni; J M Ohayon; P A Muraro; J A Frank; N D Richert; H F McFarland; F Bagnato Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: J H van Waesberghe; M A van Walderveen; J A Castelijns; P Scheltens; G J Lycklama à Nijeholt; C H Polman; F Barkhof Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 1998-04 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: O Ciccarelli; E Giugni; A Paolillo; C Mainero; C Gasperini; S Bastianello; C Pozzilli Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 1999-07 Impact factor: 6.089
Authors: M Filippi; M Rovaris; R Capra; C Gasperini; F Prandini; V Martinelli; M A Horsfield; S Bastianello; M P Sormani; C Pozzilli; G Comi Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 1999-09 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: C Pozzilli; S Bastianello; T Koudriavtseva; C Gasperini; A Bozzao; E Millefiorini; S Galgani; C Buttinelli; G Perciaccante; G Piazza; L Bozzao; C Fieschi Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 1996-09 Impact factor: 10.154