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Introduction:

Data on efficacy of interferon (IFN) beta are limited in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS). In the REPLAY study, subcutaneous (sc) IFN beta‐1a (44 and 22 mcg, three times weekly) was well tolerated in the subgroup of patients aged <12 years at treatment initiation (Tenembaum et al 2013). Data on the impact of treatment on clinical relapses in these young children are presented here.

Methods:

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients with demyelinating events who received ≥1 injection of sc IFN beta‐1a when aged <12 years. Clinical outcomes were annualized relapse rate (ARR) and time to first medically confirmed clinical relapse.

Results:

In total, 50 patients with MS were <12 years at the time of their first sc IFN beta-1a injection. The median observation time (range) was 1.3 (0.1–6.9) and 2.4 (<0.1–12.5) years before and after starting sc IFN beta-1a therapy. The ARR (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 2.00 (1.81, 2.22) prior to treatment initiation, 0.27 (0.20, 0.37) during treatment, and 0.62 (0.39, 1.00) from stopping treatment until end of observation. Prior to sc IFN beta-1a initiation, the median time from first demyelinating event to first relapse (95% CI) was 6.1 (4.4, 8.7) months. Median time to first relapse after starting sc IFN beta-1a therapy (95% CI) was 70.1 (31.6, not estimated) months.

Conclusion:

Although this retrospective study was not designed to evaluate efficacy, treatment with sc IFN beta-1a appeared to reduce relapses in patients with MS starting therapy when aged <12 years.

interferon-beta; multiple sclerosis; efficacy; children