1. Interferon-β in der Multiple-Sklerose-Therapie.
- Author
-
Hartung, H.-P., Haas, J., Meergans, M., Tracik, F., and Ortler, S.
- Subjects
- *
INTERFERONS , *MULTIPLE sclerosis treatment , *DEMYELINATION , *IMMUNOGLOBULINS , *THERAPEUTICS - Abstract
The introduction of interferon-β in 1993 in the USA and 2 years later in Europe made it possible for the first time to alter the course of the disease in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Subsequently, interferon-β was approved for the treatment of patients with active secondary progressive MS (1999) and early relapsing-remitting MS following a first demyelinating event (clinically isolated syndrome, CIS) (2006). Here we provide an overview of the clinical experience gathered during more than 20 years of interferon-β use focusing on long-term efficacy and safety and the impact of early initiation of treatment. Furthermore, the following aspects will be discussed: putative mechanisms of action of interferon-β, indications for a disease-modifying therapy, clinical relevance of neutralizing antibodies, importance of adherence in MS therapy, high versus low frequency therapy, combination therapies with interferon-β and safety of interferon-β in children and adolescents with MS and during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF