Acute therapies and disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating CNS disease for which several immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive strategies have been shown to reduce evidence of disease activity and preserve neurological function. High-dose parenteral corticosteroid therapy speeds recovery from acute attacks of MS, including optic neuritis. Severe, corticosteroid-refractory attacks may respond to plasma exchange. Following a first-ever demyelinating event (clinically isolated syndrome), treatment with glatiramer acetate, intramuscular interferon ß-1a, or subcutaneous interferon ß-1b reduces the risk of the development of clinically definite MS over the subsequent 2–3 years.