Enhanced spasticity in primary progressive MS patients treated with interferon beta-1b

Spasticity is a disabling symptom of MS that is enhanced during interferon beta-lb (IFNbeta-1b) treatment. Nineteen patients with primary progressive MS were treated with IFNbeta-1b; an additional 19 patients did not receive this treatment. Thirteen of the 19 patients treated with IFNbeta-1b had increased spasticity requiring increased antispasticity drug administration. This observation suggests that further studies are needed before interferons can be so widely used in primary progressive MS patients.