Neuropsychological assessment, quantitative MRI and ApoE gene polymorphisms in a series of MS patients treated with IFN beta-1b

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences 2006-06, Vol.245 (1), p.141-145
• Main Authors: Lanzillo, Roberta, Prinster, Anna, Scarano, Valentina, Liuzzi, Raffaele, Coppola, Giovanni, Florio, Ciro, Salvatore, Elena, Schiavone, Vittorio, Brunetti, Arturo, Muto, Mario, Orefice, Giuseppe, Alfano, Bruno, Bonavita, Vincenzo, Brescia Morra, Vincenzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; ApoE gene polymorphisms; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; Cognitive deficit; Disease activity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; IFN beta-1b; Immunomodulators; Interferon beta-1b; Interferon-beta - therapeutic use; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Multiple Sclerosis - pathology; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Neuropsychological battery; Neuropsychological Tests; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymorphism, Genetic; Quantitative MRI; Statistics, Nonparametric
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.08.023

Few trials issued the effect of disease-modifying medications on cognitive functions in multiple sclerosis. We designed an open-label longitudinal study to evaluate, during 2 years, cognitive performance and its relationship with MRI data and ApoE polymorphism findings in a group of relapsing–remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) Interferon (IFN) beta-1b-treated patients (median age 30 years, median disease duration 3.4 years). Complete neuropsychological battery was grouped into attention, information learning/memory, language and visuo-spatial functions. Fifty-two patients (33 females) were enrolled in the study. Six patients (11.5%) dropped out, mainly due to side effects. At baseline neuropsychological evaluation, we found 54% normal, 42% mildly impaired and 4% moderately impaired patients. At 2 years follow-up, cognitive status was stable in 65%, improved in 33% and worsened in 2% of patients. No significant relations were found between global cognitive outcome vs. EDSS change, clinical disease activity, MRI data or ApoE gene polymorphisms over the 2 years follow-up. EDSS and MRI fractional volumes were found to correlate with the performance at single tests. Twenty-one patients (45.6%) showed active MRI scans throughout the study, without any worsening at the corresponding neuropsychological examination. This ongoing trial suggests a possible beneficial effect of IFN beta-1b treatment on cognitive functions in RRMS patients. Extension of follow-up and further data analyses are needed to confirm and clarify these findings.