Immunotherapy of multiple sclerosis--current practice and future directions

Over the past decade, multiple sclerosis (MS) has become a treatable neurological disease. This paper reviews the therapies that have been studied to treat MS and discusses various treatment approaches on the horizon. Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies have been shown to alter the long-term course of MS. Therapies are currently available for relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, and progressive relapsing disease. Although effective, these therapies have a modest impact on reduction in relapse rate and slowing of disease progression. Much work is needed to improve upon this modest effect and hopefully obtain a cure.