Abstract
Beta-interferon was licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in 1996. Since then it has been a controversial therapy. Availability of treatment has been varied from region to region. We audited the use of beta-interferon in the Grampian region, which has the largest cohort of patients treated in Scotland. One hundred and thirty seven patients were treated up to the beginning of 2002, 12.5% of the local MS population. The number of patients given treatment in Grampian continues to increase. Very few patients have discontinued treatment. The results of this audit show that our patients were treated in line with current clinical guidelines. This has implications for the implementation of guidelines in the rest of Scotland, where much smaller numbers of patients have been treated thus far. (127)