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[What treatment should be given for multiple sclerosis at the present time?]
1Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, España. neurologia@hup.es
Revista De Neurologia
|August 5, 2000
Summary
This review outlines current multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments, differentiating between acute attack management and disease-modifying therapies. Corticosteroids offer rapid symptom relief, while interferons are the primary disease-modifying drugs for MS.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system.
- Current therapeutic strategies aim to manage acute exacerbations and modify the disease's long-term progression.
- Neurologists require updated guidance on effective and evidence-based treatment approaches.
Purpose:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of current multiple sclerosis treatment options.
- To differentiate between treatments for acute attacks and disease-modifying therapies.
- To inform neurologists about the efficacy and limitations of various therapeutic interventions.
Summary:
- Acute MS attacks are typically treated with corticosteroids or ACTH, demonstrating rapid symptom improvement in clinical trials.
- Long-term corticosteroid use has not shown efficacy in reducing attack frequency or disease progression and is associated with significant side effects.
- Interferons represent the first class of drugs proven to modify the natural course of multiple sclerosis, reducing attack frequency and severity.
Impact:
- Facilitates informed clinical decision-making for neurologists managing multiple sclerosis patients.
- Highlights the established efficacy of interferons in altering MS disease trajectory.
- Underscores the limited role of corticosteroids in long-term MS management and progressive forms of the disease.