Interferon-[beta]1b Treatment in Neuromyelitis Optica

摘要

Background: The effects of interferon-β _1b (IFN-β _1b ) administration in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been confirmed, however, those in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients have not been shown. In this study, we assessed the effects of IFN-β _1b treatment on disease exacerbation and disability progression in MS or NMO patients. Methods: We reviewed a series of 104 consecutive patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (69) or NMO (35) treated with IFN-β _1b in the MS clinical center of a national hospital in Japan. Results: The relapse number in the RRMS patients significantly decreased within 1 year after IFN-β _1b treatment (p < 0.00001); however, that in the NMO patients did not show a significant decrease (p = 0.5601). The decrease in annualized relapse rates in each RRMS patient after treatment was significant (p 0.05). The change in Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale score 1 year after treatment was higher in the NMO patients than in the RRMS patients (p = 0.0225). Conclusion: In NMO patients, IFN-β _1b treatment was not effective in reducing the relapse number and the disability progression.