title: Natural history of multiple sclerosis: have available therapies impacted long-term prognosis?
abstract: Since the mid-1990s several disease-modifying drugs (DMDs), such as β-interferons and glatiramer acetate, have become available to treat patients with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). These therapies have known short- and medium-term benefit in reducing relapses, disability progression, and accrual of new inflammatory lesions. However, the short duration of the randomized pivotal MS trials have provided little to no information about benefit from such treatment over periods of extended (>5 years) use. Whether DMDs may significantly alter the development of long-term disability remains uncertain, thus it remains challenging how to best approach the issue of long-term benefits from these treatments.
authors: Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Policlinico di Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. mtrojano@neurol.uniba.it
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Trojano
authors: Damiano
authors: D
authors: Paolicelli
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Tortorella
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Iaffaldano
authors: Guglielmo
authors: G
authors: Lucchese
authors: Vita
authors: V
authors: Di Renzo
authors: Mariangela
authors: M
authors: D'Onghia
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors