title: Immunologic therapy for secondary and primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is generally considered an immune-mediated demyelinating disease, and treatments designed to modify the course of MS are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory. Although most people with MS have a relapsing-remitting course initially, the majority will eventually experience a more gradual decline in neurologic function, termed secondary progressive MS. Some patients have gradual worsening from the beginning, termed primary progressive MS. Recent pathologic studies have revealed that axonal injury and neuronal degeneration are much more prominent in MS than previously recognized, and may be the explanation for the gradual decline in neurologic function that characterizes progressive MS. The results of several clinical trials in MS indicate that suppression of the immune-mediated inflammation may decrease the relapse rate in MS, but not stop the progressive loss of neurologic function. There are many promising approaches to this clinical dilemma, but none has been proven to be effective in stopping or retarding progressive MS. More well-designed, controlled, blinded, randomized clinical trials are needed to test these putative therapies. In the mean time, we should avoid subjecting patients to potentially dangerous and unproven regimens.
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, USA. lmyers@ucla.edu
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005544:Forecasting; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013256:Steroids; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D013256:Steroids; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D017338:Cladribine; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a