title: A practical approach to immunomodulatory therapy for multiple sclerosis.
abstract: This article provides a current overview of the definition and pathogenesis of the disease, the different types of MS, a new diagnostic criteria, the rationale for early therapy, a review of the approved MS therapies, the strategies to evaluate ongoing treatment efficacy,the management of suboptimal treatment responders, and the prospects for future therapies. The article focuses on relapsing remitting MS because most of the therapeutic data deal with this type of MS. The role of mitoxantrone as a "rescue therapy" for suboptimal responders to IMTs is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV, USA. jack@jackburks.com
authors.forename: Jack S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burks
mesh_terms: D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D008942:Mitoxantrone