Interferon Beta-1a during a First Demyelinating Event

To the Editor: Jacobs et al. (Sept. 28 issue) 1 suggest that interferon beta-1a therapy for some patients with a first clinically isolated syndrome of multiple sclerosis may delay the onset of clinically definite multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has long been based on dissemin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The New England journal of medicine Vol. 344; no. 3; pp. 229 - 230
Main Author:	Poser, C M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Massachusetts Medical Society 18-01-2001
Subjects:	Diagnostic Errors Humans Interferon-beta - therapeutic use Magnetic Resonance Imaging Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy Myelitis, Transverse - diagnosis Optic Neuritis - diagnosis
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	To the Editor: Jacobs et al. (Sept. 28 issue) 1 suggest that interferon beta-1a therapy for some patients with a first clinically isolated syndrome of multiple sclerosis may delay the onset of clinically definite multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has long been based on dissemination in both space and time. If this approach still holds, can a valid assessment of a potential disorder be made before the appearance of the symptoms that define it? I find this study troubling for several reasons. Optic neuritis is easy to identify, but no criteria are given for “incomplete transverse myelitis.” Is it . . .
Bibliography:	SourceType-Other Sources-1 content type line 63 ObjectType-Correspondence-1
ISSN:	0028-4793 1533-4406
DOI:	10.1056/NEJM200101183440313