title: Symptomatic therapy of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Despite decades of aggressive research into the cause and cure of multiple sclerosis (MS), a direct management strategy remains lacking. As research continues, patients who strive for an improved quality of life may attain it through the improved management of symptoms. Symptoms occur in MS as a consequence of loss of myelin (primary symptoms), as the result of primary symptoms (secondary symptoms), and because of psychological dysfunction associated with MS (tertiary symptoms). This paper emphasizes the recent developments in the management of primary symptoms including visual loss, weakness, spasticity, urinary and sexual dysfunction, and fatigue. The adjective multiple emphasizes the numerous potential symptoms of MS. It is through their management that people with MS may lead happier, more productive lives until a cause and cure are found.
authors.affiliation: Fairview Multiple Sclerosis Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Schapiro
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D052801:Male Urogenital Diseases; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000628:therapy; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000628:therapy