A clinical study of multiple sclerosis patients treated with betaferon.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED We conducted an open prospective randomized study of 58 multiple sclerosis patients who received Betaferon in a dose of 8 MIU every other day for 2 years. AIM: To assess the effect of Betaferon treatment depending on the number of relapses in the previous 2 years and the stage of neurological deficit at baseline. INCLUSION CRITERIA clinically definite and MRI-confirmed multiple sclerosis (MS), relapsing-remitting course, at least one relapse 2 years before the study; age 18-50 years; neurological deficit scoring--between 1.0-5.0 steps. According to initial EDSS stage, two groups were formed group A (32 patients with EDSS score < 2.5 steps) and group B (26 patients with EDSS score > or = 3.0 steps). According to the number of relapses in the last 2 years patients were assigned to group C (29 persons with 1 relapse) and group D (29 persons with > or = 2 relapses). RESULTS: Betaferon therapy effectively reduced relapse frequency in all groups. The severity of disability was significantly reduced in younger patients and in patients with milder neurological deficit at baseline. Regression analysis showed strong correlation between therapeutic improvement and baseline severity of disability. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results suggest that Betaferon can be used to treat patients with low score of neurological deficit, in an early stage of the disease.