Editing Interferon beta-1a (section)

=== Relapsing-remitting MS ===
Medications are modestly effective at decreasing the number of attacks in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rice GP, Incorvaia B, Munari L, Ebers G, Polman C, D'Amico R, Filippini G | title = Interferon in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2001 | issue = 4 | pages = CD002002 | date = 2001 | pmid = 11687131 | pmc = 7017973 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD002002 }}</ref> and in reducing the accumulation of brain lesions, which is measured using [[gadolinium]]-[[MRI contrast agent|enhanced]] [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI).<ref name="pmid18970977"/> Interferons reduce relapses by approximately 30% and their safe profile make them the first-line treatments.<ref name="pmid18970977"/> Nevertheless, not all the patients are responsive to these therapies. It is known that 30% of MS patients are non-responsive to Beta interferon.<ref name="pmid18690496">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bertolotto A, Gilli F | title = Interferon-beta responders and non-responders. A biological approach | journal = Neurological Sciences | volume = 29 | issue = Suppl 2 | pages = S216–S217 | date = September 2008 | pmid = 18690496 | doi = 10.1007/s10072-008-0941-2 | s2cid = 19618597 }}</ref> They can be classified in genetic, pharmacological and pathogenetic non-responders.<ref name="pmid18690496"/> One of the factors related to non-respondance is the presence of high levels of interferon beta neutralizing  [[antibodies]]. Interferon therapy, and specially interferon beta 1b, induces the production of  neutralizing  antibodies, usually in the second 6 months of treatment, in 5 to 30% of treated patients.<ref name="pmid18970977"/> Moreover, a subset of RRMS patients with specially active MS, sometimes called "rapidly worsening MS" are normally non-responders to interferon beta 1a.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Buttinelli C, Clemenzi A, Borriello G, Denaro F, Pozzilli C, Fieschi C | title = Mitoxantrone treatment in multiple sclerosis: a 5-year clinical and MRI follow-up | journal = European Journal of Neurology | volume = 14 | issue = 11 | pages = 1281–1287 | date = November 2007 | pmid = 17956449 | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01969.x | s2cid = 36392563 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Boster A, Edan G, Frohman E, Javed A, Stuve O, Tselis A, Weiner H, Weinstock-Guttman B, Khan O | display-authors = 6 | title = Intense immunosuppression in patients with rapidly worsening multiple sclerosis: treatment guidelines for the clinician | journal = The Lancet. Neurology | volume = 7 | issue = 2 | pages = 173–183 | date = February 2008 | pmid = 18207115 | doi = 10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70020-6 | s2cid = 40367120 }}</ref>

While more studies of the long-term effects of the drugs are needed,<ref name="pmid21205679"/><ref name="pmid18970977"/>  existing data on the effects of interferons indicate that early-initiated long-term therapy is safe and it is related to better outcomes.<ref name="pmid21205679">{{cite journal | vauthors = Freedman MS | title = Long-term follow-up of clinical trials of multiple sclerosis therapies | journal = Neurology | volume = 76 | issue = 1 Suppl 1 | pages = S26–S34 | date = January 2011 | pmid = 21205679 | doi = 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318205051d | s2cid = 16929304 }}</ref>