Praktické lekárnictvo 4/2013

New therapy options for multiple sclerosis

In the recent years we have recorded worldwide increased incidence of autoimmune diseases in populations of productive people. Such disorders include also multiple sclerosis, in which nerves are degenerating, which can gradually lead to reduced quality of the patient‘s life and in the worst case to disability. This neurological disease is not curable, but the current medicines can prevent disease progression and modifying the specific immune responses. Immunomodulatory therapy has brought great upheaval in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, because it can ensure the longest time without attacks for the patient. Current research brings new drugs (monoclonal antibodies, dimethylfumarate, cladribine) for multiple sclerosis, which are already used in practice in the treatment of other diseases. During their long-term testing new opportunities of intervence and influence multiple steps in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis were seen. Research of new drugs (dimethylfumarate, laquinimod, teriflunomid) brought their availability in oral form.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis, immunomodulatory effects, monoclonal antibodies.