A retrospective study on 385 Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon β-1b

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy, safety and compliance of interferon β-1b(IFNβ-1b) in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis(MS). Methods This multicenter, non-interventional, retrospective study was conducted in 22 hospitals in northern China to analyze data from 385 Chinese patients with MS treated with IFNβ-1b enrolled from January 2011 to February 2014. Annualized relapse rate(ARR), MRI activity, Expanded Disability Status Scale(EDSS) scores, side effects and discontinuation rates were assessed. Results (1) Among 27 patients with clinically isolated syndrome(CIS), 92.6% patients had no clinical relapse; 96.3% patients had no new T2 lesion and 100.0% patients had no enhanced lesion on MRI; no statistically significant difference was found in EDSS scores in 14 patients before and after treatment(t= 1.344, P= 0.202). (2) Among 346 patients with relapsing remitting MS(RRMS), 164 patients received treatment more than 1 year, and their median ARR reduced from 1.0 before treatment to 0 after treatment (Z=-9.667, P= 0.000); 309(89.3%) patients had no new T2 lesion and 321(92.8%) patients had no enhanced lesion on MRI; 178 patients' EDSS scores reduced from 3.3±1.8 before treatment to 2.9±1.9 after treatment(t= 4.603, P= 0.000). (3) Among 12 patients with secondary progressive MS, 7 patients received treatment more than 1 year, and their median ARR reduced from 0.3 before treatment to 0 after treatment, though the difference was not statistically significant (Z=-1.690, P= 0.091); 11(91.7%) patients had no new T2 lesion and 12(100.0%) patients had no enhanced lesion on MRI; no statistically significant difference was found in EDSS scores in 7 patients before and after treatment (t=-0.795, P= 0.457). (4)Totally 25.4% patients stopped using drug, mainly due to economical reason(25.5%), side effects(19.4%) and perception of lack of efficacy(15.3%). The common side effects included flu-like symptoms, injection site reactions, increased liver transaminases and abnormal count of blood cells. Conclusions IFNβ-1b reduces clinical relapse and MRI lesion activity of Chinese patients with CIS and RRMS, improves EDSS score of patients with RRMS, and has good safety. The economical reason is the most important one for Chinese patients to stop using the drug. Key words: Multiple sclerosis; Interferon-beta; Medication adherence; Retrospective studies