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Once‐weekly 22 μ g subcutaneous IFN‐ β ‐1a in secondary progressive MS: a 3‐year follow‐up study on brain MRI measurements and serum MMP‐9 levels
Author(s) -
Wu X.,
Kuusisto H.,
Dastidar P.,
Huhtala H.,
Nikkari S. T.,
Ukkonen M.,
Höyhtyä M.,
Elovaara I.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2006.00780.x
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple sclerosis , atrophy , magnetic resonance imaging , expanded disability status scale , interferon beta 1a , clinical trial , subcutaneous injection , gastroenterology , pathology , radiology , interferon beta , immunology
Objective – To study the effect of weekly injected subcutaneous interferon (IFN)‐ β ‐1a 22 μ g on the extent of brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the level of serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐9 in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Subjects and methods – All the 28 Finnish patients participating in the Nordic multicentre trial on the clinical efficacy of weekly IFN‐ β ‐1a (Rebif) 22 μ g in SPMS were studied neurologically and by volumetric MRI during a 3‐year follow‐up. The levels of MMP‐9 in serum were measured over the 3‐year study. Results – There was no obvious effect on the number of contrast medium‐enhancing lesions, the volume of T1 or T2 lesions or level of serum MMP‐9, nor was any effect detected on the relapse rate and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Brain atrophy progression was not affected by the treatment. Conclusion – The lack of effect on MRI, clinical outcomes or the levels of MMP‐9 indicates that subcutaneous administration of low‐dose low‐frequency IFN‐ β ‐1a is insufficient in controlling either the inflammatory constitutes or the neurodegenerative changes of advanced SPMS.