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Interferon-beta-1b effects on re-enhancing lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA

J M Solomon

Medical Numerics, Inc., Sterling, VA 20164, USA

T A Tasciyan

Medical Numerics, Inc., Sterling, VA 20164, USA

M M Cao

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

R D Stone

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

J L Ostuni

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

J M Ohayon

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

P A Muraro

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

J A Frank

Laboratory of Diagnostic Radiology Research, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

N D Richert

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

H F McFarland

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

F Bagnato

Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA, bagnatof{at}ninds.nih.gov

Interferon-beta (IFNß) reduces the number and load of new contrast-enhancing lesions (CELs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the ability of IFNß to reduce lesion sizes and re-enhancements of pre-existing CELs has not been examined extensively. Activity of contrast re-enhancing lesions (Re-CELs) and contrast single-enhancing lesions (S-CELs) were monitored in ten patients with relapsingremitting (RR) MS. These patients underwent monthly post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) for an 18-month natural history phase and an 18-month therapy phase with subcutaneous IFNß-1b, totaling 37 images per patient. The activity was analysed using the first image as a baseline and registering subsequent active monthly images to the baseline. There was a 76.4% reduction in the number of CELs with IFNß therapy. The decrease was greater (P=0.003) for S-CELs (82.3%) than for Re-CELs (57.4%). S-CELs showed no changes in durations of enhancement and maximal lesion sizes with treatment. Exclusively for Re-CELs, IFNß-1b significantly decreased maximal lesion sizes, total number of enhancement periods and total months of enhancement. Thus, IFNß appears to be effective in reducing the degree of severity of inflammation among Re-CELs, as reflected by their reduced maximal lesion sizes and durations of enhancement.

Key Words: contrast-enhancing lesions • interferon-beta • lesion sizes • magnetic resonance imaging • multiple sclerosis • re-enhancing lesions

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				S. Di Rezze, S. Gupta, V. Durastanti, E. Millefiorini, C. Pozzilli, and F. Bagnato An exploratory study on interferon beta dose effect in reducing size of enhancing lesions in multiple sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis, April 1, 2007; 13(3): 343 - 347. [Abstract] [PDF]