Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: Acute Attacks and Relapsing-Remitting
By Cheryl Kates
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis has three main goals: preventing new attacks, returning function after an attack, and preventing disability. Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis varies according to the subtype or level of severity of the disease. This section outlines the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis acute attacks and relapsing-remitting subtype.
Acute Attacks
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis acute attacks usually begins with hospitalization. High doses of corticosteroids such as methylprednisonole are usually administered either intravenously or orally in order to reduce the inflammation period and close the window of time in which nerve damage may occur. These corticosteroids have not been proven to have any long-term effects on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis Part 1
Relapsing-Remitting MS
When it comes to the relapsing-remitting subtype, treatment of Multiple Sclerosis gets a bit more complicated. Currently there are six FDA approved forms of treatment of relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis that have been proven somewhat effective at reducing the number of acute attacks and slowing the progression to disability.
The first three approved treatments are types Interferons, which are natural proteins produced by the immune system. Interferons will help regulate the immune system, which is an integral part of the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.
The fourth approved treatment is Glatiramer Acetate. Glatiramer acetate helps in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis by basically throwing itself on the grenade to become a target of immune system attacks, freeing up the central nervous system.
Mitoxantrone is considered the most effective relapsing-remitting treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, however it isn’t as widely used as the others because it has been linked to cardiac toxicity.
The most recently approved treatment of Multiple Sclerosis is Natalizumb, which received its seal of approval in May of 2006. Its approval was delayed by studies showing complications in patients taking both Natalizumb and Interferons in their treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.