Abstract
Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell- mediated autoimmune disease with central nervous system lesions which characterized by mononuclear cellular infiltrate, edema, demyelination, and occasionally axonal loss. MS is a chronic disease requiring long-term monitoring of treatment. This study performed to evaluate the effects of interferone beta – 1a on brain lesions of MS patients by then MRI images.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 patients who had MS criteria were selected. Neurologic examinations were done on them and primary MRI was preformed. Then they were treated with interferon beta-1a for six months. After then, another MRI was preformed and neurologic reexamination done again. We compared results of first and second MRIs and examinations results were analyzed with SPSS, Paired T-test & Chi-square. Results were reported in percents and means. The level of meaningfulness was considered as P<0.05.
Results: Out of 30 patients, 22 of them were female and 8 of them were males. Mean age at the time of study was 31.2 (SD=5/68) years. There were, decrease of motor signs in 13 cases, decrease of sensory signs in 5 cases, decrease of cerebellar & brain stem signs in 5 cases and decrease of spinal signs in 7 cases. There was decrease in the size of MRI plaques in supratentorium in 17 cases, in cerebellum and brain stem in 14 cases, and in cervical cord in 4 cases. There was decreased number of MRI plaques in supratentorium in 4 cases, cerebellum and brain stem in 10 cases and in spine in 2 cases. In first MRI number of lesions were in 30 cases in supratentorium, 13 cases in infratentorium and 13 cases in spine.
Conclusions: Interferon beta-1a is effective in decreasing the size of MRI plaques in MS patients. Also it is useful in decreasing clinical signs.