European Neurology 47:1:2002, 11-14.
Yoram Barak (a,b), Anat Achiron
(a)
(a) Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba
Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and
(b) Abarbanel Mental Health Center,
Bat-Yam, Israel
Introduction:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is recognised
as a central nervous system disease also affecting cognition. The rate
of cognitive dysfunction in MS is in the range of 45-65% and adversely
affect the quality of life.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of 1 year
of treatment with interferon-beta-1b (IFN-1b) on cognitive functions in
patients suffering from relapsing-remitting MS.
Methods:
A battery of cognitive tests was
used to assess verbal learning, delayed recall, visual learning and recall,
complex attention, concentration and verbal fluency at baseline and after
1 year of treatment with IFN-1b. A group of 23 relapsing-remitting MS patients
matched for neurological disability served as controls.
Results:
Eighteen of 23 patients treated with
IFN-1b (74%) completed the study. In the IFN-1b-treated group, complex
attention, concentration as well as visual learning and recall improved
significantly (p = 0.024, p = 0.006 and p = 0.005, respectively), while
no deterioration was observed in the other dimensions. In the control group,
complex attention, verbal fluency, as well as visual learning and recall
deteriorated significantly (p = 0.02, p = 0.004 and p = 0.01, respectively),
while no deterioration was observed in the other dimensions.
Conclusion:
Immunomodulating drugs that reduce
the relapse rate and slow the disease progression also inhibit cognitive
deterioration in patients with MS.
Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG,
Basel