BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the proportion and the reasons of drop-outs in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta (IFNB) and the outcome of switching subjects. METHODS: Patients stopping IFNB were classified according to the reason of drop-out: perceived lack of efficacy (PLE) side effects (SE) and other reasons. Long-term adherence was described using the Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: We evaluated 225 subjects (158 women; age = 36.6 +/- 9.2 years, disease duration = 8.0 +/- 6.1 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale score = 1.9 +/- 1.2) who received Betaferon (46), Avonex (88) and Rebif (91) therapy. The mean follow-up duration was 4.2 +/- 2.7 years. Forty-six percent of patients suspended therapy, 29% because of PLE, 15% because of SE and the remaining 2% due to other reasons. Twenty-five out of 33 subjects who suspended IFNB because of SE and 62 out of 65 patients who suspended the therapy due to PLE were switched to another disease-modifying drug. At the end of the follow-up, the majority of these patients could continue the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: When starting IFNB therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a relatively high proportion of discontinuation is to be expected over time. Switching from a treatment to another taking into account the reasons of drop-out and the disease activity is a suitable option.

Long-term adherence to interferon beta therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis / E. Portaccio; V. Zipoli; G. Siracusa; S. Sorbi; M. P. Amato. - In: EUROPEAN NEUROLOGY. - ISSN 0014-3022. - STAMPA. - 59:(2008), pp. 131-135. [10.1159/000111875]

Long-term adherence to interferon beta therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

PORTACCIO, EMILIO;ZIPOLI, VALENTINA;SORBI, SANDRO;AMATO, MARIA PIA
2008

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the proportion and the reasons of drop-outs in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta (IFNB) and the outcome of switching subjects. METHODS: Patients stopping IFNB were classified according to the reason of drop-out: perceived lack of efficacy (PLE) side effects (SE) and other reasons. Long-term adherence was described using the Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: We evaluated 225 subjects (158 women; age = 36.6 +/- 9.2 years, disease duration = 8.0 +/- 6.1 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale score = 1.9 +/- 1.2) who received Betaferon (46), Avonex (88) and Rebif (91) therapy. The mean follow-up duration was 4.2 +/- 2.7 years. Forty-six percent of patients suspended therapy, 29% because of PLE, 15% because of SE and the remaining 2% due to other reasons. Twenty-five out of 33 subjects who suspended IFNB because of SE and 62 out of 65 patients who suspended the therapy due to PLE were switched to another disease-modifying drug. At the end of the follow-up, the majority of these patients could continue the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: When starting IFNB therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, a relatively high proportion of discontinuation is to be expected over time. Switching from a treatment to another taking into account the reasons of drop-out and the disease activity is a suitable option.
2008
59
131
135
E. Portaccio; V. Zipoli; G. Siracusa; S. Sorbi; M. P. Amato
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/316971
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 27
  • Scopus 84
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 72
social impact