ABSTRACT
Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of central nervous system. It is the second most common cause of disability in young adults after trauma. Nowadays, Beta-Interferons are used as the best choice of disease modifying therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. There is a remarkable difference in the uses of these medications between developed and developing countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate and costs of treatment with Beta-Interferon in patients with MS in Fars Province
Methods: In a descriptive study, all patients who were registered in Shiraz multiple sclerosis society, and were treated with Beta-Interferon [confirmed by the MS Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences] were recruited to the study
Results: A total of 1791 patients had received Beta-Interferon. The most and the least types of the medications used by the patients were Cinovex [28%] and Resigen [2.9], respectively. Many patients [No=587; 33.1%] used Iranian brand of interferon [Cinovex and Recigen] and 1185 patients [67.9%] used medications made in other countries. Prescription of Iranian brands of medications was considerably increased from 2006 to 2010. The annual costs of treatment with Beta-interferon were approximately 126 milliard Rials
Conclusion: A Majority of the MS patients used Beta-Interferon in Fars Province. In recent years, usage of Iranian brand of beta interferon has been largely increased. Despite this fact, more than half of Iranian patients received Beta-Interferons which were made in other countries. Annual cost of these medications was high [more than 126 milliard Rials] in Fars province