Re: Why us with SPMS need LDN

[Guest guest]

Is multiple sclerosis a disease that requires frequent beta interferon

dosing?

Durelli L.

Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy,

luca.dur

The three currently available beta interferon products for the treatment

of patients with

relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are administered according

to different regimens.

Placebo-controlled clinical trials support the efficacy of both alternate-day

interferon beta-1b

(Betaferon(®)) and once-a-week interferon beta-1a (Avonex trade mark

), but benefits to

patients are probably dependent on the regimen used. Once-weekly administration,

perceived to

have fewer adverse events and greater convenience, may improve compliance,

whereas frequent

administration might enhance efficacy. However, more frequent administration

is also associated with an increase in neutralising antibody (NAb) production,

relative to once weekly treatment. The issue of NAbs is complex, and their

clinical relevance, if any, has yet to be fully assessed. Pharmacological

evidence suggests that the effects of beta interferon on a number of biological

markers is maximised when administered every 48 hours. This might arise

as a result of sustained activity in the intracellular molecular signalling

pathways regulating beta interferon-induced gene expression. Some evidence

suggests that the increase in biological effect at higher more frequent

doses is mirrored by improvements in clinical and MRI outcome measures.

Two recent comparative studies demonstrated significantly better clinical

and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes in patients with RRMS receiving

alternate-day high-dose interferon beta-1b (250 micro g subcutaneously)

or three-times-weekly high-dose interferon beta-1a compared to those receiving

once weekly low-dose interferon beta-1a (30 micro g intramuscularly). Despite

some methodological drawbacks, these studies indicate that the benefits

of high-dose frequently administered beta interferon on relapse rate are

seen soon after beginning treatment. Therefore, it seems appropriate to

begin the treatment of RRMS with this dosing regimen.

Reg Kreil wrote:

So

this just made the news but then we knew it all along right?Reg

Data

Do Not Support Use Of Intravenous Immunglobulin G In Patients With Secondary

Progressive MS

A group of European researchers said recent findings

do not support the use of intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) as a treatment

for patients with secondary progressive MS.

In the study, 318 patients with secondary progressive MS received IVIG

or a placebo once a month for 27 months. The researchers monitored how

much time passed until patients in each group experienced treatment failure.

Complete data were available for 280 patients at 27 months. Treatment

failure occurred in 77 patients in the IVIG and 70 patients in the placebo

group. Patients in the IVIG group were 11 percent more likely to fail treatment

than patients receiving placebo.

There was also no significant difference in the annual relapse rate

(0.46 percent for both groups).

Moreover, patients treated with IVIG also had a higher rate of deep

venous thrombosis, which may suggest some potential risks associated with

this treatment, the authors of the study commented.

”In the light of the many encouraging results with this treatment in

earlier stages of the disease, however, these negative findings should

not discourage further investigations into the mechanisms of action of

IVIG to avoid missing the chance of a potentially useful therapy in relapsing-remitting

MS,” the investigators concluded.

This research was published in the Sept. 25 issue of The Lancet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A complimentary medical news service provided by Teva Neuroscience,

this news service has been developed independently and does not necessarily

reflect the opinions of Teva Neuroscience. MS Update is a current news

service provided by FAXWATCH™. The staff of medical writers at FAXWATCH™

independently summarize and abstract the most current articles on subjects

in multiple sclerosis from the major peer-reviewed medical publications,

such as ls of Neurology, JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine and

Journal of Neurology. In all cases, FAXWATCH™ cites the original source

of its material.

____________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Remember I stressed in my subject line "why us with SPMS need LDN."

Reg

-------Original Message-------

From: low dose naltrexone

Date: 09/29/04 14:41:39

low dose naltrexone

Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone] Why us with SPMS need LDN

Is multiple sclerosis a disease that requires frequent beta interferon dosing? Durelli L. Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy, luca.dur The three currently available beta interferon products for the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are administered according to different regimens. Placebo-controlled clinical trials support the efficacy of both alternate-day interferon beta-1b (Betaferon(®)) and once-a-week interferon beta-1a (Avonex trade mark ), but benefits to patients are probably dependent on the regimen used. Once-weekly administration, perceived to

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

[Guest guest]

It's not a distinction that is emphasized enough BY

OTHERS IN MY OPINION.

Reg Kreil wrote:

Remember

I stressed in my subject line "why us with SPMS need LDN."Reg

-------Original Message-------

From: low dose naltrexone

Date: 09/29/04 14:41:39

low dose naltrexone

Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone]

Why us with SPMS need LDN

Is multiple sclerosis a disease that requires frequent beta interferon

dosing?

Durelli L.

Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy,

luca.dur

The three currently available beta interferon products for the treatment

of patients with

relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are administered according

to different regimens.

Placebo-controlled clinical trials support the efficacy of both alternate-day

interferon beta-1b

(Betaferon(®)) and once-a-week interferon beta-1a (Avonex trade mark

), but benefits to

patients are probably dependent on the regimen used. Once-weekly administration,

perceived to

____________________________________________________

IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click

Here