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PERSISTENCE ON INTERFERON Beta-1b IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: 19-YEAR OF FOLLOW-UP

CARMEN ADELLA SIRBU ^1#, CRISTINA FLORENTINA PLEȘA ^1#, MINERVA CLAUDIA GHINESCU ^2*, IONUȚ CALOIANU ¹, FLORENTINA IONITA-RADU ³

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For multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease, long-term monitoring, persistence, adherence, and safety profile of drugs are important factors for the therapeutic efficacy and quality of life. This study is valuable in this regard, determining the potential factors that contribute to persistence on therapy. Our study aimed to evaluate the persistence to treatment with interferon beta-1b (INFβ-1b) in a group of 113 patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis over a 19-year follow-up period. For this, we used descriptive statistical analysis. Correlations were studied using ANOVA and chi-square, Kaplan Meyer survival model; calculations were made in SPSS 26, and graphs in the Excel 2003 version. The age at inclusion was 35.7 ± 8.6 years and the average follow-up period was 8.6 ± 6.1 years. After 19 years of treatment, 31.9% of patients continue to receive injectable treatment with INFβ-1b. Treatment persistence was significantly higher in women than in men. Adverse reactions were low in the group who discontinued therapy. A constant number of patients converted to a progressive form of the disease during the first 13 years of treatment. Treatment with INFβ-1b, although injectable and with a high frequency of administration, has good persistence and a very good long-term safety profile. Women have higher persistence on treatment, and other variables, such as age at onset, EDSS score, and the disease form did not correlate significantly with the persistence rate.