A meta-analysis of interferon-beta in the secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Abstract

To systematically review the clinical efficacy of interferon-beta in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. A systematically review of Cochrane were conducted. The authors searched in electronic literatures of Medline (1980. 1-2008. 1), Ovid (1980. 1-2008. 1), Pubmed (1980. 1-2008. 1), CBMdisc (1980. 1-2008. 1), Cochrane Library (2008. 1) and hand-searched the relevant literatures and symposium reports. The randomized controlled trials of interferon-beta were assessed in secondary progressive MS patients. After evaluating the quality of literatures and extracting the valid data, the authors assessed the randomized controlled trials of interferon-beta in secondary progressive MS patients. RevMan 4.2.3 software was used. Based upon the testing result of heterogeneity, fixed or random effect model was employed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Six RCTs of 3115 patients were included. The results indicated that interferon-beta could reduce 1 and 2-year progression rate (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.61-0.88 and OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.72-0.98) and lower the relapses rate (OR = 0.67, 95% = 0.55-0.82). Subgroup analysis suggested that relapsing women and patients during the two years before the study benefit much more from interferon-beta (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53-0.92 vs. OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.55-0.97). The treatment of interferon-beta in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis could reduce 1 and 2-year progression rate and lower the relapses rate.