Author/Editor		Kappos, Ludwig; Freedman, Mark S; Polman, Chris H; Šega Jazbec, Saša
Title		Long-term effect of early treatment with interferon beta-1b after a first clinical event suggestive of multiple sclerosis: 5-year active treatment extension of the phase 3 BENEFIT trial
Type		članek
Source		Lancet Neurol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 8, št. 11
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 987-97
Language		eng
Abstract		Background: The Betaferon/Betaseron in newly emerging multiple sclerosis for initial treatment (BENEFIT) trial investigated the effect of treatment with interferon beta-1b after a clinically isolated syndrome. The 5-year active treatment extension compares the effects of early and delayed treatment with interferon beta-1b on time to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) and other disease outcomes, including disability progression. Methods: Patients with a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis and a minimum of two clinically silent lesions in MRI were randomly assigned to receive interferon beta-1b 250 microg (n=292; early treatment) or placebo (n=176; delayed treatment) subcutaneously every other day for 2 years, or until diagnosis of CDMS. All patients were then eligible to enter a prospectively planned follow-up phase with open-label interferon beta-1b up to a maximum of 5 years after randomisation. Patients and study personnel remained unaware of initial treatment allocation throughout the study. Primary endpoints were time to CDMS, time to confirmed disability progression measured with the expanded disability status scale, and the functional assessment of multiple sclerosis trial outcomes index (FAMS-TOI) at 5 years. Analysis of the primary endpoints was by intention to treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00185211. Findings: 235 (80%) patients from the early treatment and 123 (70%) from the delayed treatment group completed the 5-year study. Early treatment reduced the risk of CDMS by 37% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.63, 95% CI 0.48-0.83; p=0.003) compared with delayed treatment. The risk for confirmed disability progression was not significantly lower in the early treatment group (0.76, 0.52-1.11; p=0.177). At 5 years, median FAMS-TOI scores were 125 in both groups. No significant differences in other disability related outcomes were recorded. (Abs. trunc. at 2000 ch.)
Descriptors		DATA INTERPRETATION, STATISTICAL DISABILITY EVALUATION ADULT DISEASE PROGRESSION DOUBLE-BLIND METHOD INTERFERON-BETA MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PROPORTIONAL HAZARDS MODELS QUESTIONNAIRES RISK ASSESSMENT