Author/Editor		Baumhackl, U
Title		Management of multiple sclerosis patients with interferon beta-therapy - experience from Austria
Type		članek
Source		In: Vodušek DB, editor. Proceedings of the Symposium on multiple sclerosis with the 11th dr. Janez Faganel memorial lecture; 1995 Oct 6-7; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: University institute of clinical neurophysiology,
Publication year		1995
Volume		str. 72-3
Language		eng
Abstract		The therapy of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) with interferon-(IFN)-beta is an important promising measure in the management of this patients. An expert group within the Neurology department of the Austrian Neuropsychiatric Society decided in April 1994 to put the distribution of IFN beta for MS patients in order. A meeting with the main association of Austrian social security institutions followed, the third step was a consensus statement, in the participation of 20 neurologists from Austria, about diagnosis and treatment of MS, held in Vienna on the 5th of May 1994. We tried to assess current therapies on the grounds of convincing studies. The assessment of IFN beta-1b revealed a beneficial effect on the course of relapsing-remitting MS in respect of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial on 372 patients. This study was published in 1993. Since IFN beta currently holds the greatest promise of any available agent for relapsing-remitting MS, some neurology centers started in 1994 treatment with a preparation that was available but not approved. At the very beginning of this year Beetaseron (IFN beta-Ib) became available in Austria. The high acquisition costs on one hand, the proven beneficial effects for at this time a certain group (not all) MS patients on the other side, and other conditions led to a well organised program for the distribution of this treatment: - educational seminars for doctors and nurses; - tight cooperation with the social security institutions, who accept the prescription of this treatment, if the inclusion criteria followed the experience of the large north American double-blind trial; - the patient was investigated at an approved neurology center (defined by the neurology department of the Austrian Neuro-psychiatric Society); - the patient got extensive education and counselling for this therapy, as the mainstay for compliance, with instruction for s.c.injection; (Truncated)
Descriptors		MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS INTERFERON-BETA