Two Types of MS?

March 29, 2010 - New study findings may soon revolutionize multiple
sclerosis (MS) treatment and diagnosis.
The study strongly suggests that there are two major types of MS and that a
simple blood test can tell one from the other. By itself, that would be a major
finding. But that's not all.
One type of MS responds to beta interferon, generally considered the best
treatment. The other type does not -- and beta interferon treatment may even
make it worse, find Stanford University researcher Lawrence Steinman, MD, and
colleagues.
"I'm very excited about some of the implications of this," Steinman tells
WebMD. "The most important implication is that a simple blood test could tell
us who does and does not respond to beta interferon. It could be that
about 25% of patients are in
the 'do not benefit' group."
For patients who do respond to beta interferon, the study raises hopes that
the drug may work better than previously thought. That's because the clinical
trials that proved beta interferon to be effective likely enrolled both types
of MS patients, watering down the drug's average efficacy in beta interferon responders.
In coming months, Steinman said, he hopes to show that the two kinds of MS
respond differently to other MS drugs, too.
Patricia O'Looney, PhD, vice president for biomedical research at the
National MS Society, said the study will help researchers solve some of the
mysteries surrounding MS.
"No two people with MS are exactly alike in disease course and in response
to therapy. Why is this?" O'Looney tells WebMD. "We don't understand why
about 50% of people who take
beta interferon don't respond well."





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