To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Interferon Effective In Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/BF182.htm Doctor's Guide November 6, 1998
LONDON, ENGLAND -- Novembre 6, 1998 -- In this week's Lancet, two studies of a drug called interferon ß show that the drug is effective in the treatment of two different stages (relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive) of multiple sclerosis (MS). In the PRISMS study, led by Dr George Ebers, 560 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were randomly assigned interferon ß-1a in two different doses, or placebo. Neurological examinations were done every three months. The investigators found that, "relapse rate was significantly lower" with both doses of interferon ß-1a than with placebo. In the second study, from the European Study Group, led by Professor Ludwig Kappos, 718 patients with secondary-progressive MS were randomly allocated interferon ß-1b or placebo for up to three years. The investigators found that, "there was a highly significant difference in time to confirmed progression of disability in favour of interferon ß-1b." In a commentary in this week's Lancet, Dr. Donald Goodkin says, "the PRISMS trial confirms earlier reports that interferon ß-1a reduces clinical relapses, delays time to onset of sustained progression of disability, and reduces the number of new MRI." Commenting on the study by Kappos and colleagues, Goodkin says, "interferon ß-1b should immediately be made available for patients with secondary progressive disease." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.