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Research ArticleORIGINAL ARTICLES
Open Access

Response to beta interferon 1b among Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis

Haga Kargwell, Basim A. Yaqub and Saleh M. Al-Deeb
Neurosciences Journal January 2003, 8 (1) 12-16;
Haga Kargwell
Department of Neurosciences, Armed Forces Hospital, PO Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (1) 4777714 Ext. 5419. Fax. +966 (1) 4777194. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
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Basim A. Yaqub
Department of Neurosciences, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Saleh M. Al-Deeb
Department of Neurosciences, Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous beta interferon 1b (B1F1b) among Saudi patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (R-R MS).

METHODS: An open label study held at the Neurology Division of the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh from March 1997 until December 2001. Thirty-two consecutive patients below the age of 50 years with clinically definite R-R MS according to Poser’s Criteria and expanded disability status scale below 5.5 were enrolled in treatment with subcutaneous B1F1b 8 million IU 3 times a week. The primary outcome measures used were: reduction in annual relapses, proportion of relapse-free patients, and the mean time to the first relapse after treatment was started. The secondary outcome measures used were the time to progression in disability, tolerability and safety of the beta interferon.

RESULTS: Only 28 patients were analyzed to assess the outcome measures, the other 4 patients dropped out and were followed-up. Twenty were women and 8 were men (female:male ratio of 2.5:1). There was a significant reduction in relapse-rate in all patients, 32.5% were relapse-free, while 37.5% showed reduction in the number of relapses. None of our patients showed progression of disability (P<0.0249). Mild adverse reactions were seen in 38.5%, influenza-like illness occurred in 53.6%, and injection-site reaction in 35.7%.

CONCLUSION: Subcutaneous B1F1b is effective in patients with R-R MS, especially in reducing relapse rate, probable disability, and it is well tolerated. However, longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate the role of B1F1b in preventing disability.

  • Copyright: © Neurosciences

Neurosciences is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work.

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Neurosciences Journal: 8 (1)
Neurosciences Journal
Vol. 8, Issue 1
1 Jan 2003
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Response to beta interferon 1b among Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis
Haga Kargwell, Basim A. Yaqub, Saleh M. Al-Deeb
Neurosciences Journal Jan 2003, 8 (1) 12-16;

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Response to beta interferon 1b among Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis
Haga Kargwell, Basim A. Yaqub, Saleh M. Al-Deeb
Neurosciences Journal Jan 2003, 8 (1) 12-16;
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© 2025 Neurosciences Journal Neurosciences is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved. Neurosciences is an Open Access journal and articles published are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (CC BY-NC). Readers may copy, distribute, and display the work for non-commercial purposes with the proper citation of the original work. Electronic ISSN 1658-3183. Print ISSN 1319-6138.

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