Prospective clinical and electrophysiological follow-up on a multiple sclerosis population treated with interferon beta-1a: a pilot study

¹ Department of Neurology, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de La Timone, Marseille, France
² Department of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Université de la Méditerranée, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital de La Timone, Marseille, France

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

	Abstract

Objective To analyse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) variables in a prospective six-month follow-up pilot study on patients suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), satisfying inclusion criteria for interferon (IFN) beta-1a treatment.

Background So far, no predictive factors are available as to the course of RRMS treated with IFN beta-1a.

Design/methods Fifteen RRMS patients were studied before (month 0 (M0)) and after IFN beta-1a onset (M3, M6). The parameters analysed were motor functional score (mFS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and TMS variables - central motor conduction time (CMCT) and amplitude ratio (AR).

Results Four of the six patients with no motor signs at inclusion, subsequently showed signs of pyramidal dysfunction. All had abnormal M0_TMS variables. The number of M0_TMS abnormalities per patient was greatest in the group that showed mFS worsening, and was significantly correlated with M6_EDSS. The M0_CMCT was significantly correlated with M6_EDSS. During follow-up, the number of patients with abnormal TMS variables decreased from 12/15 to 4/15, and the total number of abnormalities decreased from 33.3 to 16.7%.

Conclusions TMS variables might be predictive of disease progression. The improvement observed here in the TMS variables may reflect an improvement in MS patients undergoing IFN beta treatment.

Key Words: evoked potentials, humans, interferon beta, multiple sclerosis, neurophysiology, transcranial magnetic stimulation

First published on January 29, 2007, doi:10.1177/1352458506070235

Multiple Sclerosis 2007;13:348.

A more recent version of this article appeared on April 1, 2007


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