ABSTRACT

I. INTRODUCTION The Multiple Sclerosis Collaborative Research Group (MSCRG) was formed initially by Lawrence Jacobs, M.D., Andres Salazar, M.D. and Robert Herndon, M.D. in the early 1980s shortly after 13 interferons (IFNs) became available in sufficient quantities for testing. Dr. Jacobs did a preliminary trial with intrathecal natural IFN-0 (1,2) based on evidence that IFNs do not cross the blood-brain barrier in appreciable concentrations (3) later confirmed (4) and the assumption that they would have to get into the central nervous system to have an effect. This initial pilot trial was followed by a modified double-blind study using 1 x 106 international units, (IU) of natural human IFN-/3 dissolved in 9 ml of Elliot's B solution and 1 ml sterile water injected intrathecally once weekly for 4 weeks and then monthly for 5 additional months. Control multiple sclerosis (MS) patients had an initial and final lumbar puncture (LP) to collect cerebrospinal fluid with sham LPs at other times. That is, they were prepped and anesthetized in the normal manner, the needle was inserted but did not penetrate the dura, and 5 ml of sterile water was injected before withdrawing the needle (5).