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Practice Guideline
. 2025 Apr 21;222(7):365-371.
doi: 10.5694/mja2.52577. Epub 2025 Feb 9.

Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 2

Jessica Shipley  1   2 , James Beharry  3 , Wei Yeh  1   2 , Nabil Seery  1   2 , Yi Chao Foong  2   4 , Darshini Ayton  2 , Pakeeran Siriratnam  1   2 , Tracie Tan  1   2 , Heidi Beadnall  5 , Joshua Barton  6 , Francesca Bridge  1   2 , Robb Wesselingh  1   2 , Lisa Taylor  7 , Louise Rath  1 , Jodi Haartsen  8 , Mohammad Gadi  9   10 , Cassie Nesbitt  1   2   11 , Michael Zhong  1   2 , Victoria Cushing  1 , Fiona McKay  12 , Julia Morahan  12 , Benjamin Peter Trewin  13   14 , Izanne Roos  7   15 , Mark Marriott  7   16 , Ai-Lan Nguyen  7   15 , Emma Downey  1 , Joanne Crosby  1 , Julian Bosco  1   2 , Jennifer Taylor  17 , Lauren Giles  18 , Nevin John  2   19 , Ernest Butler  20 , Anneke van der Walt  1   2 , Helmut Butzkueven  1   2 , Stefan Blum  21 , Marion Simpson  22 , Mark Slee  23 , Sudarshini Ramanathan  14   24 , Todd Hardy  24 , Richard A L Macdonell  22 , Katherine Buzzard  7   25 , Deborah F Mason  3   26 , Jeannette Lechner-Scott  27   28 , Trevor J Kilpatrick  7   29 , Tomas Kalincik  7   15 , Bruce V Taylor  4   30 , Simon A Broadley  31   32 , Stephen Reddel  5   24 , Douglas Johnson  33   34 , Mastura Monif  1   2 ; MS Interest Group, Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Consensus recommendations on multiple sclerosis management in Australia and New Zealand: part 2

Jessica Shipley et al. Med J Aust. .

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system with rapidly evolving treatment options and strategies. An iterative modified Delphi process was used to develop 80 consensus recommendations for the management of MS in Australia and New Zealand. Part 1 of these guidelines includes recommendations related to selection of initial disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for MS, assessments before commencing DMT, monitoring disease activity on DMT, switching DMT, and discontinuing DMT.

Main recommendations: This article, Part 2, covers recommendations related to risk mitigation during treatment with DMT, managing DMT in special situations (including pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, active infection including COVID-19, and malignancy), general lifestyle measures for MS, acute MS relapses, and symptomatic treatments.

Changes in management as a result of the guidelines: Together with Part 1, this consensus statement provides practical guidance for clinicians involved in the care of adults (≥ 18 years old) with MS in Australia and New Zealand. A safe, effective and comprehensive approach to managing MS is crucial for improving long term outcomes and quality of life in individuals affected by MS.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis.

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References

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