This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
To the Editor:
The recently published CHAMPIONS trial1 reported that the early use of weekly IFN beta-1a (compared to delayed treatment) reduced the likelihood of developing clinically definite (CD) multiple sclerosis (MS) after a 5-year follow-up period in patients who had initially presented with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suggestive of MS. There are concerns both about the trial design and this conclusion.
For example, this trial was planned only after the completion of the CHAMPS trial2 and with full knowledge of the CHAMPS results. Additionally, the primary endpoint of the CHAMPIONS trial was the development of CDMS at any time after CIS onset. Consequently, at the outset of CHAMPIONS, there was already a highly significant difference (bias) between groups with respect to the primary outcome measure. Significantly more patients in the delayed treatment group had already reached (and were known to have reached) their final endpoint before the trial even began compared to the early treatment group. Conversely, there were significantly more “survivors” (i.e., those without a second clinical …
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Alert Me
Recommended articles
IM interferon β-1a delays definite multiple sclerosis 5 years after a first demyelinating event
Treatment effects of immunomodulatory therapies at different stages of multiple sclerosis in short-term trials
Early treatment of multiple sclerosis to prevent neurologic damage
The 11-year long-term follow-up study from the randomized BENEFIT CIS trial