Role of steroids and immunosuppression and effects of interferon beta-1b in multiple sclerosis.
Corticosteroids, corticotropin, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and IFN-beta 1b have each had a substantial effect on the care of patients with multiple sclerosis and the design of subsequent clinical trials of experimental therapeutics for MS. The use of MRI scanning and more sensitive clinical outcome measures will possibly enable us to complete clinical trials in a fraction of the time required for earlier trials. The release of Betaseron, which favorably alters the attack rate in ambulatory patients with relapsing-remitting MS has brought a sense of renewed optimism to patients with MS, their families, and their care providers. New promising therapies for chronic progressive MS and biologic products possibly capable of enhancing the effects of IFN-beta 1b in patients with relapsing MS are setting the stage for additional important therapeutic advances in this disease.
Goodkin
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DE
Multiple Sclerosis Center, Mount Zion Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine 94115.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a