Oral contraceptives combined with interferon β in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) in combination with interferon β (IFN-β) on disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods

One hundred fifty women with RRMS were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive IFN-β-1a subcutaneously (SC) only (group 1), IFN-β-1a SC plus ethinylstradiol 20 μg and desogestrel 150 μg (group 2), or IFN-β-1a SC plus ethinylestradiol 40 μg and desogestrel 125 μg (group 3). The primary endpoint was the cumulative number of combined unique active (CUA) lesions on brain MRI at week 96. Secondary endpoints included MRI and clinical and safety measures.

Results

The estimated number of cumulative CUA lesions at week 96 was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-1.14) in group 1, 0.84 (9

SUBMITTER: Pozzilli C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4476053 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature