[Drug therapy in multiple sclerosis]

Abstract

For the last 10 years, three disease-modifying-therapy drugs have been approved by the French health authorities for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS: two of them are immunomodulatory agents (interferon beta 1a or 1b and glatiramer acetate), administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injections at different time points, reducing by about 30% the risk of relapses. The third drug approved is an immunosuppressive agent, mitoxantrone, administered intravenously at a dose of 12 mg/m2 per month up to a maximum cumulative dose of 72 mg/m2, used as a second line therapy in rapidly worsening relapsing MS non responder to immunomodulatory agents. The impact of such medications in MS patients with gradual progression of disability has not yet been established either in secondary or primary progressive MS.