title: Role of interferons in demyelinating disease.
abstract: Interferon beta 1b (Betaseron) was licensed by the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration in July 1993 as the first treatment to alter the natural history of multiple sclerosis (MS). The drug, injected subcutaneously every other day, reduced the frequency of relapses and the expansion of central white matter pathology as measured by MRI. Twelve previous interferon trials in MS, employing a variety of interferon preparations, doses and routes of administration, preceded this trial and provided the scientific foundation for its success. Beta interferon therapy probably inhibits gamma interferon to achieve its therapeutic effect. Future MS therapy may require combination treatment with multiple agents with complimentary immunologic effects.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a