Results of an international questionnaire on immunosuppressive treatment of multiple sclerosis

In November 2000, a questionnaire was sent to 702 multiple sclerosis (MS) centers. Data on the institute, treating neurologists, number of MS patients under care, and the number of patients treated with immunosuppressive treatments were collected. The results indicate that overall, around 10% of MS patients are treated with one of four drugs: azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and mitoxantrone. Azathioprine was most frequently used. More than 30% of MS patients in France are treated with immunosuppressive drugs. In some other countries, these treatments are hardly prescribed.