MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
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OPTIC
NEURITIS New
England Journal of Medicine Study Shows that Early Drug Treatment with
Interferon Beta-1a, Avonex®, Can Reduce the Rate of Development of Multiple
Sclerosis in identifying early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) and even
delaying the onset of the disease. Nearly
50% of individuals developing MS presented optic neuritis as their initial
event, which underlines the importance that ophthalmologists recognize the early
symptoms of the disease and refer at-risk patients to a neurologist. According
to a new study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine, early
treatment with the MS therapy interferon beta-1a, or Avonex®, can significantly
reduce the rate at which individuals at high-risk for the disease actually
develop clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS). In
the study, the rate of development of CDMS was 44 percent lower in the treated
group than in the placebo-treated group. FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE EARLY
RECOGNITION OF SYMPTOMS BY OPHTHALMOLOGISTS COULD HELP DELAY THE ONSET OF
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS New
England Journal of Medicine Study Shows that Early Drug Treatment Can (Dallas,
TX - October 24, 2000) -- Ophthalmologists can play a crucial role in diagnosing
the earliest signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) and even delaying the onset of the
disease, researchers said today during the "Hot Topics" session at the
annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) in Dallas.
According to a study published last month in Treatment
with AVONEX in this group of patients reduced the rate of development of CDMS by
44 percent versus treatment with placebo. A large percentage of people with MS
first experience symptoms that could be identified by ophthalmologists. The
first indication that a person may have MS is a single, clinical, demyelinating
event of the optic nerve, spinal cord, or cerebellum/brain stem. A clinically
definite case of MS is not considered until someone has had two clinical
demyelinating events, separated by time and location in the central nervous
system. High-risk individuals often first experience damage Early
Recognition of Symptoms by Ophthalmologists Could Help Delay the Onset of MS "Nearly
50 percent of individuals who are eventually diagnosed with MS first present
with optic neuritis, a eye condition that often leads people to see their
ophthalmologists," CHAMPS researcher Steven Galetta, M.D., Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology
Service and Professor of Neurology/ Ophthalmology at the University of
Pennsylvania Medical Center, told ophthalmologists at the AAO meeting.
"Therefore, it is essential that ophthalmologists recognize the early
symptoms of the disease and refer at-risk patients to a neurologist. These
high-risk patients should be identified and treated early with AVONEX, because
there is now evidence that we can delay the onset of the disease and slow its
progression." The
CHAMPS study was a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III
clinical trial involving 383 patients determined to have a high probability of
developing CDMS based on brain MRI changes and clinical events consistent with
MS. Participants received weekly intramuscular injections of either 30 mcg of
AVONEX or placebo. The study was conducted The
primary study outcome was the development of CDMS, which was defined as the
occurrence of either 1) a new neurological event (optic neuritis, spinal cord
syndrome, or brain stem syndrome) or 2) progressive neurological deterioration.
Brain MRI results were the The
CHAMPS study yielded the following results: *
The rate of development of CDMS was 44 percent lower in the AVONEX-treated group
than in the placebo-treated group. Study
Suggests New Course of Action for At-Risk Individuals Over
200 new cases of MS are diagnosed each week in the United States alone. Many
more individuals are at risk of developing the disease, which is the most common
neurological disorder affecting young people in this country. "To
date, there are no accepted guidelines for treating patients who have
experienced a single MS-like attack but who have not yet developed clinically
definite MS," Dr. Galetta said. "This study is extremely important
because it indicates that initiating therapy with AVONEX in Early
Recognition of Symptoms by Ophthalmologists Could Help |