Since 1993, the beneficial effects of interferon beta have been shown [ 1], and in Japan, interferon beta-1b (IFN beta-1b) has significantly reduced relapse rates and reduced MRI lesion areas in patients with relapsing-remitting MS [ 2].
The two new studies, published online in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that the drug BG-12, developed by Biogen Idec, reduced relapse rates in patients with relapsing M.S. by about 50 percent.
Much of the success is due to the improvements in leukaemia therapy demonstrated in improved disease-free survival and reduced relapse rates in clinical trials but improvements in supportive care over the years have also had a very significant contribution.
Argon beam coagulation and electrocoagulation to destroy the remaining epithelium and placement of an omental transposition flap after fenestration can also contribute to reduced relapse rates [25].
Interferon beta (IFNβ) is routinely used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), and in randomized placebo-controlled trials, reduced relapse rates by 30% [1] [3 ]
The RCT results revealed reduced relapse rates and improved practitioner satisfaction [ 19].
Furthermore, in a randomised controlled trial, prophylactic treatment with co-trimoxazole reduced relapse rates by 60% [ 84].
This may have been sufficient to be the cause of the reduced relapse rates seen in intervention practices in the randomised controlled trial.
