Table 1:
Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of patients and controls
| Patients | Controls | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | 44 | 54 |
| Age (mean ± SD) (yr) | 37.4 (9.6) | 38.2 (9.1) |
| Men/women | 16/28 | 19/35 |
| Age of onset (mean ± SD) (yr) | 30.2 (10.1) | N/A |
| Disease duration at baseline (mean ± SD) (yr) | 6.6 (6.3) | N/A |
| Disease type (RRMS/SPMS/PPMS)a | 38/4/2 | N/A |
| Immunomodulatory therapy (No.) (%) | N/A | |
| 0 = No therapyb | 7 (15.9) | |
| 1 = β-interferonc | 21 (47.7) | |
| 2 = Glatirameracetate | 11 (25.0) | |
| 3 = Immunoglobulins | 4 (9.0) | |
| 4 = 3-month methylprednisolone | 1 (2.2) |
Note:—NA indicates not applicable; PPMS, primary-progressive MS; RRMS, relapsing-remitting MS; SPMS, secondary-progressive MS.
a
No significant differences between patients with RRMS and SPMS/PPMS were detected for age, age of onset, and disease duration.
b
One patient changed to interferon treatment during the study period.
c
Three patients changed from interferon to mitoxantrone therapy during the study period.