We have located links that may give you full text access.
Clinical Trial
Clinical Trial, Phase III
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Intramuscular interferon beta-1a for disease progression in relapsing multiple sclerosis. The Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research Group (MSCRG)
Annals of Neurology 1996 March
The accepted standard treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis consists of medications for disease symptoms, including treatment for acute exacerbations. However, currently there is no therapy that alters the progression of physical disability associated with this disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether interferon beta-1a could slow the progressive, irreversible, neurological disability of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Three hundred one patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis were randomized into a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III trial of interferon beta-1a. Interferon beta-1a, 6.0 million units (30 micrograms¿, was administered by intramuscular injection weekly. The primary outcome variable was time to sustained disability progression of at least 1.0 point on the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Interferon beta-1a treatment produced a significant delay in time to sustained EDSS progression (p = 0.02). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the proportion of patients progressing by the end of 104 weeks was 34.9% in the placebo group and 21.9% in the interferon beta-1a-treated group. Patients treated with interferon beta-1a also had significantly fewer exacerbations (p = 0.03) and a significantly lower number and volume of gadolinium-enhanced brain lesions on magnetic resonance images (p-values ranging between 0.02 and 0.05). Over 2 years, the annual exacerbation rate was 0.90 in placebo-treated patients versus 0.61 in interferon beta-1a-treated patients. There were no major adverse events related to treatment. Interferon beta-1a had a significant beneficial impact in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients by reducing the accumulation of permanent physical disability, exacerbation frequency, and disease activity measured by gadolinium-enhanced lesions on brain magnetic resonance images. This treatment may alter the fundamental course of relapsing multiple sclerosis.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Treatment of hyponatremia: comprehension and best clinical practice.Clinical and Experimental Nephrology 2025 January 23
How We Treat ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A Focus on the Maintenance Therapy.Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025 January 2
Allergic rhinitis.Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology 2024 December 27
Insomnia in older adults: A review of treatment options.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 2025 January 2
Aldosterone and Potassium in Heart Failure: Overcoming This Major Impediment in Clinical Practice.Cardiac Failure Review 2024
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2025 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app