[New therapeutic possibilities for disseminated sclerosis?]

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease of unknown origin. Immunological processes are thought to be of pathophysiological importance. Immunosuppressive treatment has been tried with various drugs in order to influence the immunological process. Steroid hormones are able to reduce the duration of an acute attack, but have no influence on the long-term progression. Cyclophosphamide can reduce disease activity a little, but has severe side effects. Azathioprine may reduce the frequency of acute attacks and disease progression a little. Cyclosporine A in the treatment of multiple sclerosis is only effective in doses so high that the side effects are unacceptable. Plasmapheresis in combination with immunosuppressive treatment is shown to stabilize the disease in some experiments. Intravenous polyclonal immunoglobulin has shown promising results in the treatment of other immunologically based diseases, and is a potentially beneficial treatment in multiple sclerosis. At Rigshospitalet, ongoing clinical trials will evaluate the efficacy of plasmapheresis and polyclonal immunoglobulin.