Neopterin production and tryptophan degradation during 24-months therapy with interferon beta-1a in multiple sclerosis patients

Table 1 Patient demographics and clinical characteristics at baseline

	IFNβ-1a 44 mcg three times weekly (n = 48)	IFNβ-1a 22 mcg three times weekly (n = 53)
Age (years)	34.2 ± 8.4	35.3 ± 8.2
Sex (fem/male)	30 (62.5%)/18 (37.5%)	41 (77.4%)/12 (22.6%)
Age at disease onset	29.2 ± 8.3	30.4 ± 8.1
Duration of MS (years)	5.2 ± 4.3	4.9 ± 4.2
EDSS score	1.7 ± 1.0	1.6 ± 1.0
Annual relapse rate prior to therapy	0.8 ± 0.9	1.0 ± 1.2

Data are expressed as means, except for sex (expressed in number and percentage); EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale; IFNβ-1a: interferon beta 1a; MS: multiple sclerosis. All p values for comparisons of the characteristics listed above, between the two treatment groups, were not significant.