title: Current disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In recent years, the usefulness of interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) has been established. Interferon beta has also been shown to be efficacious in secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) as well as in patients with isolated syndromes at risk to develop clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS). Mitoxantrone is another disease-modifying drug that is available for SPMS and severe cases of RRMS. The clinical utility of disease-modifying agents in MS will be reviewed with respect to the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and immunosuppressive treatments that are currently available. Symptomatic therapies will not be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Moorenstrasse 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kieseier
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069442:Natalizumab; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000700:Analgesics; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate