Therapy that modifies the course of the disease in multiple sclerosis

Abstract:

Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) with disease-modifying drugs started during the early 1990s with the approval of interferon-β for use in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Since then, there has been significant development in this field and 25 years after the invention of the first drug for MS there are more than 10 DMTs registered for the treatment of RRMS. In addition to advances in the treatment of RRMS, significant progress has been made in the treatment of progressive forms of MS: a drug for the treatment of early primary progressive MS has been registered and a drug for the treatment of secondary progressive MS is expected to be approved. Drugs used in the treatment of MS can be divided into first-line drugs, drugs with smaller effect, but greater safety, and second- line drugs having greater effect and potentially greater side effects. Treatment of RRMS usually begins with one of the first-line drugs.I If the therapy does not show an adequate effect, it is necessary to introduce the second-line drug into the therapy. However, in the case of highly active RRMS, treatment with one of the second-line drugs should be initiated immediately. It is important to offer to each patient diagnosed with RRMS treatment with one of the drugs that modify the course of the disease, given their significant impact on the prognosis of the disease.

Key words:
progressive multiple sclerosis; relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; therapy that modifies the course of the disease