Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Often referred to collectively as “Beta Interferons”.
Interferons are proteins that occur naturally in the immune system. It is thought
that beta interferon acts by reducing both inflammation and the immune response that
is attacking the body's own myelin.
Interferons are usually prescribed to an MS person when they are ambulant (able to
walk 10 metres or more). Plus showing signs of MS symptoms that are either:
Evidence of additional lesions within the last year on their MRI scans or same evidence
in a MS person but with a poor prognosis for other reasons.
One disabling relapse in the past year.
Two significant relapses in the past two years.
Or
An acute worsening of MS symptoms that is sustained for a day or more followed by
an improvement of the symptoms over one to four weeks would indicate a relapse has
occurred.
In certain circumstances an MS person experiencing secondary - progressive multiple
sclerosis (MS) and provided that they are ambulant and that relapses are the cause
of an increasing disability they may be treated - advice should be obtained from
a health professional.
Note
A worsening of MS symptoms may also be caused by:
Flu or a cold.
Infection.
Fever.
One type of MS responds to beta interferon. The other type does not -- and beta interferon
treatment may even make it worse - Types of MS, Study Reveals -Site Page
