title: ["Time is brain" in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Current treatment concepts in immunotherapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite highly divergent time scales of disease evolution in multiple sclerosis (MS) and ischemic stroke, clear analogies are apparent that may point the way to optimization of MS treatment. Inflammatory disease activity and neurodegeneration may induce potentially irreversible damage to central nervous system structures and thus lead to permanent disability. For the treatment of MS early detection of disease activity and early immunotherapy or treatment optimization are pivotal determinants of long-term outcomes. Such therapeutic concepts may be described with the catchy phrase "time is brain" as coined for the acute thrombolytic treatment of ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For MS a "time is brain" concept would comprise an early initiation of first line therapy as well as sensitive and structured monitoring of disease activity under therapy in conjunction with a low threshold for timely treatment optimization to achieve sustained freedom from measurable disease activity. This approach may substantially improve the long-term outcome in patients who show insufficient response to platform therapies. The intersectorial collaboration in regional MS care networks involving office-based neurologists and specialized MS centers may facilitate the timely use of highly active therapies with their specific benefit-risk profiles thus supporting sustained stabilization of patient quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland. ralf.linker@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linker
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Praxis und multiple sklerose zentrum Bamberg, Bamberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B-A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kallmann
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik des Universitätsklinikums Würzburg, Würzburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kleinschnitz
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Klinikum am Bruderwald der Sozialstiftung Bamberg , Bamberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rieckmann
authors.affiliation: Neurologie, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim gGmbH, Bad Mergentheim, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäurer
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schwab
mesh_terms: D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Collaboration; Immunotherapy; Multiple sclerosis; Network; Treatment optimization