In 2012, Marvin Goldberg researched different multiple sclerosis treatments, ranging in a variety of injection methods and effects on the body system.
Through this research of multiple sclerosis, the research paper included tables to show two basic types of treatments of MS, which show three therapeutic agents. Rebif (Pfizer), uses drug type interferon beta-1b. This experimental design compares two different groups; one is a crossover group, which randomly receives interferon-beta-1a, in doses 22 or 44 mcg tiw (n=172). And the contrast group, which maintains to receive the same amount of doses 22 or 44 mcg tiw (n=167 per group). All patients had received 3 to 6 months clinical and annual MRI assessment. Betaseron (Bayer), uses drug type interferon-beta-1b.
This clinical trial was separated into groups, one which receives 0.25 mg of interferon-beta-1b (IFNB) each time and one group receives a dosage of placebo, which does nothing to the body. Compared to the placebo group, the group that receives IFNB shows that the disease burden is significantly reduced during treatment.
All of the different types of treatments shown on the tables go through several different trials runs, which help show the effects that each dosage has on the body and if the effect changes with different patients. Essentially, the author compares all the different types of treatments and dosages to one another to clearly show the differences between all of them so that people who are looking for a treatment would have an easier time picking which one is right for them.
The paper also talked about the general overview of multiple sclerosis, along with the variety of possible treatments and therapies that can help. There is no cure for MS, but there are eight FDA-approved therapeutic agents that can help reduce the disease activity and progression in patients with relapsing forms of MS. All of these agents have different dosing frequencies and routes of administration, some of which are intramuscular, intravenous, by mouth, or subcutaneous.
The paper goes into detail about each type of treatment, as well as off-label treatments and drugs that are in development. This is advantageous for finding out all the forms of treatment for MS, no matter the attainability. The research helps provide a well-rounded scope of every possible treatment for multiple sclerosis while still knowing that there is no cure for it in the end.
It is disadvantageous in talking about exactly what each agent does to the body, even though it does briefly talk about the effects of each treatment, whether it helps with brain lesions or disability progression. Perhaps if there was more research into what each agent does to certain parts of the body, leading up to the effects it has, it would be easier for people with multiple sclerosis to pick a type of treatment if that is what they wish to do. It could also help ease the concern of others who know someone with multiple sclerosis if they know exactly what is going on in their loved one’s body.
Multiple sclerosis has shown to be a persistent disease that is resistant to many treatments, and has yet to be cured. But this article shows that trying new forms of treatment can help slow down the progression of the disease, which can eventually lead to the creation of an eminent cure.
APA Format Citation:
Goldenberg, M. M. (2012, March). Multiple sclerosis review. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. Retrieved October 12, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351877/.
