summary: Interferon beta (IFNb) is one of the accepted treatments for relapsing-remitting MS. No treatment has yet been proven to be effective for primary progressive MS in delaying the progression of disability. The authors aimed to investigate whether IFNb treatment given for two years was effective in provoking such delay in accumulation of disability over time, in a double blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. They found that, despite having some positive effects on some clinical scales (within the MS functional composite, MSFC) and on magnetic resonance parameters, the drug was not effective in delaying progression of disability when measured by, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the most common clinical scale.

authors: Montalban X, Sastre-Garriga J, Tintoré M, Brieva L, Aymerich FX, Río J, Porcel J, Borràs C, Nos C, Rovira A

source: Mult Scler. 2009 Sep 29

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