Abstract
Background: The effects of interferon-β<sub>1b</sub> (IFN-β<sub>1b</sub>) administration in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been confirmed, however, those in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients have not been shown. In this study, we assessed the effects of IFN-β<sub>1b</sub> treatment on disease exacerbation and disability progression in MS or NMO patients. Methods: We reviewed a series of 104 consecutive patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (69) or NMO (35) treated with IFN-β<sub>1b</sub> in the MS clinical center of a national hospital in Japan. Results: The relapse number in the RRMS patients significantly decreased within 1 year after IFN-β<sub>1b</sub> treatment (p < 0.00001); however, that in the NMO patients did not show a significant decrease (p = 0.5601). The decrease in annualized relapse rates in each RRMS patient after treatment was significant (p < 0.01), but that in each NMO patient was not (p > 0.05). The change in Kurtzke’s Expanded Disability Status Scale score 1 year after treatment was higher in the NMO patients than in the RRMS patients (p = 0.0225). Conclusion: In NMO patients, IFN-β<sub>1b</sub> treatment was not effective in reducing the relapse number and the disability progression.
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