title: Primary care management of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects young adults most often. The course of MS is unpredictable and variable on a day-to-day basis. As chronic problems accumulate, the disease may become more steadily progressive, with fewer or no acute relapses. A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is a clinical one based on a thorough history and neurologic examination findings and supported by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and evoked potential studies. Management strategies fall into three general categories: treatment of relapses caused by underlying disease; prevention of progression or reduction of the frequency of relapses; and control of specific symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Gimbel MS Center,Teaneck, N.J., USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*