TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term results of immunomodulatory treatment in children and adolescents with multiple sclerosis
T2 - The Italian experience
AU - Ghezzi, Angelo
AU - Amato, Maria Pia
AU - Annovazzi, Pietro
AU - Capobianco, Marco
AU - Gallo, Paolo
AU - La Mantia, Loredana
AU - Marrosu, Maria Giovanna
AU - Martinelli, Vittorio
AU - Milani, Nicoletta
AU - Moiola, Lucia
AU - Patti, Francesco
AU - Pozzilli, Carlo
AU - Trojano, Maria
AU - Zaffaroni, Mauro
AU - Comi, Giancarlo
AU - Simone, I. L.
AU - Di Monte, Elisabetta
AU - Ardito, R.
AU - Stecchi, S.
AU - Scandellari, C.
AU - Marrosu, M. G.
AU - Spinicci, G.
AU - Patti, F.
AU - D'Amico, E.
AU - Portaccio, E.
AU - Lori, S.
AU - Costantino, G. F.
AU - Pilato, V.
AU - Zaffaroni, M.
AU - Bellantonio, A.
AU - Fantozzi, R.
AU - Milanese, C.
AU - Scarpini, E.
AU - De Riz, M.
AU - Sola, P.
AU - Merelli, E.
AU - Guerra, A.
AU - Perini, P.
AU - Atzori, M.
AU - Bergamaschi, R.
AU - Veggiottii, P.
AU - Prosperini, L.
AU - Bertolotto, A.
AU - Capobianco, M.
AU - Malucchi, S.
AU - Cavalla, P.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of immunomodulatory agents (IMAs) (Interferon-Beta, Glatiramer Acetate) in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with disease onset in childhood or adolescence, treated before 16 years of age, after a long-term follow-up. A total of 130 patients were identified, 77 were treated with Avonex, 39 with Rebif/Betaferon, 14 with Copaxone. After a mean (SD) treatment duration of 53.6 ± 27.0, 59.9 ± 39.5 and 74.6 ± 35.5 months, respectively, the relapse rate decreased significantly. The final EDSS score was unchanged with respect to the initial score. Similar results were also observed in subjects who continued a long-term follow-up after they were included in an observational study in 2004, and in subjects who were treated before 12 years of age. The frequency of clinical and laboratory adverse events was similar to that observed in adult patients. To conclude, IMAs were effective and well tolerated in paediatric patients with MS.
AB - The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of immunomodulatory agents (IMAs) (Interferon-Beta, Glatiramer Acetate) in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with disease onset in childhood or adolescence, treated before 16 years of age, after a long-term follow-up. A total of 130 patients were identified, 77 were treated with Avonex, 39 with Rebif/Betaferon, 14 with Copaxone. After a mean (SD) treatment duration of 53.6 ± 27.0, 59.9 ± 39.5 and 74.6 ± 35.5 months, respectively, the relapse rate decreased significantly. The final EDSS score was unchanged with respect to the initial score. Similar results were also observed in subjects who continued a long-term follow-up after they were included in an observational study in 2004, and in subjects who were treated before 12 years of age. The frequency of clinical and laboratory adverse events was similar to that observed in adult patients. To conclude, IMAs were effective and well tolerated in paediatric patients with MS.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Childhood
KW - Glatiramer acetate
KW - Immunomodulatory agents
KW - Interferon-beta
KW - Multiple sclerosis
KW - Paediatric multiple sclerosis
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67349159369&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10072-009-0083-1
DO - 10.1007/s10072-009-0083-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 19387545
AN - SCOPUS:67349159369
VL - 30
SP - 193
EP - 199
JO - Neurological Sciences
JF - Neurological Sciences
SN - 1590-1874
IS - 3
ER -