DX02
Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Interferon Beta-1a: Immunological and Short-Term Brain Volume Changes

Friday, May 30, 2014: 1:20 PM
Coronado B
Michael G. Dwyer, PhD , Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Robert Zivadinov, MD, PhD , Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY
Yazhong Tao, PhD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Xin Zhang, MD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Cheryl Kennedy, LMSW, MPH , Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY
Niels Bergsland, MS , Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY
Deepa P Ramasamy, MD , Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Jacqueline Durfee, BSc , Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, NY
David Hojnacki, MD , Department of Neurology, The Jacobs Neurological Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, MD , Department of Neurology, The Jacobs Neurological Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Brooke Hayward, SM, MBA , EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA
Fernando Dangond, MD , EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA
Silva Markovic-Plese, MD , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC


PDF
Background: Chronic relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) progression is associated with decreased brain volume (atrophy). Over the short term, brain volume may change via inflammation-related hydrodynamic changes, which subside following anti-inflammatory therapy (pseudoatrophy). Responses to such therapy may be influenced by patients’ immunological status before and during treatment.

Objectives: To compare percent brain volume change (PBVC) between patients with RRMS treated over 6 months with thrice-weekly interferon beta-1a subcutaneously (IFN beta-1a SC)  and healthy controls (HCs), and to analyze correlations between immunological markers and short-term volume changes among treated patients.

Methods: This 24-week, two-arm (23 RRMS patients receiving IFN beta-1a SC, 15 HCs) pilot study (NCT01085318) evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at baseline and 3 and 6 months, and immunological measures at baseline and 6 months. PBVC using SIENA over 0–3, 3–6 and 0–6 months was assessed within groups using Wilcoxon signed–rank test; differences between RRMS patients and HCs were assessed by Wilcoxon rank–sum test. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between PBVC and changes in immunological markers in RRMS patients.

Results: PBVC between baseline and 3 months was –0.95% (standard deviation, 1.712%) among RRMS patients (p=0.03) and 0.24% (standard deviation, 1.068%) in HCs (p=0.36); the difference was significant between groups (p=0.02). No significant PBVC was seen with either group over Months 3–6 or 0–6. Decreased percentage of CD4+ T-cells producing interleukin (IL)-17F over Months 0–6 was significantly correlated with reduced brain volume over Months 0–6 (r=0.51; p=0.02) in RRMS patients.

Conclusions: IFN beta-1a SC is associated with reduced brain volume over the first 3 months of treatment, but not over 3–6 months, an effect consistent with treatment-induced pseudoatrophy. The correlation between decreased percentage of CD4+ T-cells producing inflammatory IL-17F and volume reduction is supportive of an early anti-inflammatory therapeutic effect of IFN beta-1a SC.

See more of: Disease Management, Mechanisms, and Treatment (Platform/Oral)
See more of: CMSC
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>