Abstract
Many new therapies have become available for multiple sclerosis patients during the
last decade. They are mainly effective in the early relapsing stage of the disease.
Despite this undisputed progress, there are still major deficits in the treatment
of the patients. Effective anti-inflammatory treatments profoundly decrease disease
activity, although this may occur on the expense of a partially impaired immune surveillance
of the central nervous system. Furthermore, the clinical outcome of recent trials
does not always meet the expectations of the neuroimmunological community. This suggests
that preclinical testing in experimental models, although useful and necessary, has
its limitations. For treatment of the progressive stage of the disease blood brain
barrier penetration of drugs appears to be one crucial issue. Additionally, little
is known on the immunological mechanisms of slow burning inflammation present in the
brain of patients with progressive MS. Finally, it is suggested that neuroprotective
strategies, which target mitochondrial injury and its downstream effects on neurons
and axons are promising future therapeutic options.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 18, 2010
Accepted:
July 27,
2010
Received in revised form:
July 8,
2010
Received:
May 3,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
