Immunologic therapy of multiple sclerosis

BGW Arnason, MD - Annual review of medicine, 1999 - annualreviews.org
BGW Arnason, MD
Annual review of medicine, 1999annualreviews.org
Three interferon β preparations (Betaseron®, Avonex®, and Rebif®) have shown efficacy in
the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Attack frequency is reduced by
30% and major attacks to an even greater extent. Accumulating disease burden as
measured by annual T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is markedly lessened, and
disease activity as measured by serial gadolinium-enhanced MRI scanning is reduced by
over 80%. A fourth preparation, Copaxone®, a basic copolymer of four amino acids, lessens …
Three interferon β preparations (Betaseron®, Avonex®, and Rebif®) have shown efficacy in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Attack frequency is reduced by 30% and major attacks to an even greater extent. Accumulating disease burden as measured by annual T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is markedly lessened, and disease activity as measured by serial gadolinium-enhanced MRI scanning is reduced by over 80%. A fourth preparation, Copaxone®, a basic copolymer of four amino acids, lessens MS attack frequency by 30% and also lessens disease activity as measured by gadolinium-enhanced MRI. Betaseron® lessens accumulation of disability in MS patients with secondary progressive disease regardless of the severity of disability at the time treatment is commenced. MS is now a treatable disease.
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