Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis – Pathogenesis of Neurodegeneration and Therapeutic Strategies

Title: Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis – Pathogenesis of Neurodegeneration and Therapeutic Strategies

Volume: 8 Issue: 3

Author(s): Dirk Fitzner and Mikael Simons

Affiliation:

• Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, Gottingen, Germany.,Germany

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, chronic progression, inflammation, neurodegeneration, treatment

Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that usually starts as a relapsing-remitting disease. In most patients the disease evolves into a chronic progressive phase characterized by continuous accumulation of neurological deficits. While treatment of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) has improved dramatically over the last decade, the therapeutic options for chronic progressive MS, both primary and secondary, are still limited. In order to find new pharmacological targets for the treatment of chronic progressive MS, the mechanisms of the underlying neurodegenerative process that becomes apparent as the disease progresses need to be elucidated. New animal models with prominent and widespread progressive degenerative components of MS have to be established to study both inflammatory and non-inflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Here, we discuss disease mechanisms and treatment strategies for chronic progressive MS.

Cite this article as:

Fitzner Dirk and Simons Mikael, Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis – Pathogenesis of Neurodegeneration and Therapeutic Strategies, Current Neuropharmacology 2010; 8(3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157015910792246218