title: Palliative care in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and can be characterized by acute exacerbations or gradual worsening of neurological function and disability. The course of the disease is highly variable and unpredictable, however, there are short and long-term favorable and unfavorable predictive factors, which may provide some information about the future pattern of the disease. Palliative care in MS is directed at symptom management, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation. The goal in palliative care is to achieve a high quality of life. The disease modifying agents, interferon beta, Glatiramer acetate and Mitoxantrone are the mainstay of treatment in MS. Symptomatic relief and counseling of patients with MS have a strong impact on quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Nurse Practitioner, Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Department of Neurology, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA. aliza.ben-zacharia@mssm.edu
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ben-Zacharia
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Lublin
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology