Cytokines as Biomarkers of Treatment Response to IFNβ in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Table 3
Data of study subjects separated in treatment response groups.
GR ()
PR ()
noRx ()
(versus GR, PR)
Baseline characteristics
Female/male ()
12/7
8/8
NS*
5/3
Age at diagnosis (years)
31.42 ± 10.25
32.88 ± 10.82
0.68
38.38 ± 5.09
0.24, 0.36
Disease duration (years)
1.28 ± 2.36
2.31 ± 2.97
0.21
4.27 ± 5.18
0.18, 0.47
Pre-IFN ARR
1.46 ± 1.08
1.61 ± 0.52
0.45
0.54 ± 0.26
0.006, 0.003
T2 lesions
9.68 ± 6.17
12.31 ± 5.12
0.18
8.87 ± 4.08
0.73, 0.11
T1 Gd+ lesions
2.73 ± 2.30
2.31 ± 2.05
0.65
0.50 ± 0.53
0.01, 0.05
IgG index
1.11 ± 0.54
1.02 ± 0.76
0.39
0.85 ± 0.52
0.13, 0.31
CSF cells (per L)
11.16 ± 8.65
10.81 ± 8.16
0.90
4.12 ± 5.79
0.05, 0.01
EDSS acute
2.74 ± 0.93
3.15 ± 0.89
0.27
1.81 ± 0.37
0.01, 0.003
Follow-up data
Follow-up duration (years)
5.07 ± 1.57
5.39 ± 1.58
0.55
5.71 ± 1.53
0.32, 0.71
EDSS remission
1.79 ± 1.01
2.40 ± 0.93
0.01
1.31 ± 0.25
0.30, 0.003
EDSS final
2.02 ± 1.39
4.18 ± 1.87
0.001
1.12 ± 0.23
0.01, 0.001
IFN duration (years)
4.01 ± 1.55
2.91 ± 1.68
0.05
NA
ARR under IFN
0.18 ± 0.27
1.42 ± 0.75
<0.0001
Relapse free (%)
58.82%
0%
<0.0001
87.5%
0.003, <0.0001
EDSS progression-free (%)
94.11%
33.33%
0.01
100%
0.60, 0.001
Data are given as mean ± SD; ARR: annualized relapse rate; GR: good response; PR: poor response, noRx: no treatment; NA: not applicable; NS: not significant (*chi-square test); corresponds to ARR for the entire follow-up period under noRx; numbers in bold denote statistical significance.