Interferon Beta-1a and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis in Iran

Vol. 52, No. 4, 2004

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Original Paper

Interferon Beta-1a and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis in Iran
Hossein Kalanie^a, Kurosh Gharagozli^a, Abolfazl Hemmatie^a, Mehdie Ghorbanie^a, Amir Reza Kalanie^b

^aShahid Beheshtie University of Medical Sciences, Department of Neurology, Loghman Hospital, Tehran, Iran;
^bUniversity of Otago Medical School, Christchurch, New Zealand

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Neurol 2004;52:202-206 (DOI: 10.1159/000082036)

Key Words

Interferon-_1a
Intravenous immunoglobulin
Multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interferon beta-1a (Avonex) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in clinical practice for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Avonex is the most common disease-modifying therapy used in Iran due to its ease of administration. IVIG is also frequently used due to its alleged effectiveness and fewer side effects. Eighty patients were selected and prospectively monitored according to a predefined protocol. They were then randomized to receive either weekly intramuscular injections of Avonex or 0.4 g/kg monthly IVIG in a single blind fashion and following an attack of exacerbation which was treated with steroids. Basal relapse rate and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were similar in both groups of patients (p > 0.4). Seventy-two patients remained in the study. The annual relapse rate consistently decreased from 0.95 ± 0.41 to 0.60 ± 0.67 (~32%, p < 0.001) for 34 patients treated with Avonex and from 1.05 ± 0.34 to 0.55 ± 0.46 for 38 patients in the IVIG group (~47%, p < 0.001). EDSS decreased by 0.4 units in IVIG-treated patients (p < 0.001) and remained stable (0.2 < p < 0.3) in the Avonex arm. This study confirms the relative efficacy of both treatments with better safety profile for IVIG in the studied Iranian population. However, the results are very preliminary ones, due to limited numbers of patients and only 12 months of treatment.

Author Contacts

Hossein Kalanie, MD
Professor of Neurology, Mehr Hospital
Zartosht Street
14157 Tehran (Iran)
Tel. +98 21 8040832, Fax +98 21 8969155, E-Mail Kalanie@afranet.com

Article Information

Received: March 22, 2004
Accepted: September 8, 2004
Published online: November 10, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 42

Medline Abstract (ID 15539773)

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