Impact of stop β interferon on 20 cases of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in BMC Benghazi-Libya 2011.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a common demylinating and inflamatory disease of the CNS with a presumed autoimmune etiology. Interferon β have been used for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis through its regulatory properties on T-cell activation and cytokines production.

OBJECTIVES: During the war Benghazi-Libya (17 February 2011 revolution) multiple sclerosis patients have got stopped β interferon because unavailability of drugs which allow to evaluate the efficacy of β interferon on relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis regarding frequency and severity of relapses during months of stopping it.

METHODS: Twenty cases of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis aged 18-55 years of disease duration 1-11 years were on βinterferon none of them have a relapse studied in comparative retrospective prospective study disease relapse, none of the patients has relapse, no relapse, its severity, nature of relapse and respond to Rx in months of stoppage of β interferon and before stop it using frequency, percentage and P value.

RESULTS: Fifteen cases of 20 got relapse (75% relapse rate) significant rate, 3 cases have more than 1 relapse, 12 got severe relapse, 11 cases admitted to hospital, all patients recieved Methylprednisolone 1g (3-5 days), 13 got complete respond and 2 incomplete.

CONCLUSION: β Interferon is efficient in prevention of relapse and decreasing severity of relapse in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.