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Evidence summaries

Maintenance Treatment with Interferon in Multiple Myeloma

There appears to be no significant survival advantage of interferon in the maintenance treatment of multiple myeloma. Level of evidence: "B"

A systematic review 1 including 6 RCTS with a total of 812 subjects was abstracted in DARE. The pooled weighted mean lifetime survival for the control group was 3.42 years per patient, and for the interferon-treated group it was 3.42 (or 3.87, 95% CI 2.88 to 4.06 estimated by the method of Simes).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by limitations in review methodology.

    References

    • Trippoli S, Becagli P, Messori A, Trendi E. Maintenance treatment with interferon in multiple myeloma: a survival meta-analysis. Clin Drug Invest 1997;14:392-399. [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords