[Overview of MS: proposal of new MS definition/classification and review of the results of recent clinical trials].
Recurrent Devic' s neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and Asian optic-spinal multiple sclerosis (MS) used to be defined as a syndrome with selective clinical optic-spinal presentation. Recent discoveries have prompted us to propose a new definition for MS as chronic autoimmune central nervous system myelin/glial disorder syndrome consisting of two subtypes: myelin/oligodendroglial disorder (classic demyelinating MS) and astroglial disorder (NMO). Subtype differentiation in clinical practice are not clear in many Japanese MS patients. Significant progress in the treatment of demyelinating type MS has been made recently and we are now going into the era of 2nd generation disease modifying therapies. Natalizumab, Fingolimod, Alemtuzumab, and Rituximab probably will change the MS disease course tremendously and make the patient' s quality of life much better than during the era of interferon treatment.
Saida
Takahiko
T
Kyoto-Miniren-chuo Hospital.
D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology