title: [Guidelines for drug treatment of multiple sclerosis].
abstract: Strategies proposed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis are numerous and sometimes contradictory. This review summarizes the most recent studies on the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Possibilities of influencing progression of the disease and the degree of disability suffered by patients are discussed. The treatment of acute relapses with high-dose intravenous glucocorticoids is now widely accepted because it has been shown that the duration of the relapse is reduced. Interval therapy between relapses and treatment of the chronic progressive variant of multiple sclerosis are still under debate. Immunosuppression, in particular with azathioprine, appears to have a positive effect on the long-term outcome. Whether other regimens, e.g., treatment with recombinant lymphokines, have a therapeutic effect, is difficult to assess at present since these substances have either never been tested in controlled double blind studies or the results of these studies are not yet available.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Neurologie, Wien.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kollegger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vass
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marschall
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deecke
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007372:Interferons