Management of multiple sclerosis has progressed enormously over the last 15 years, with the advent of treatments that modify the course of the disease and reduce the frequency of relapses.
Disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis
Disease-modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) involves taking immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs to limit the occurrence of relapses. There are a number of molecules, administered by injection or orally, that can be used. The most appropriate treatment is chosen by the neurologist according to the characteristics of the patient’s disease.
Treatment during relapses
Multiple sclerosis relapses are caused by inflammation of the central nervous system and attacks on myelin by the patient’s own immune cells, leading to the various symptoms of MS. During a relapse, infusions of corticosteroids, with their powerful anti-inflammatory effect, can reduce the duration of the relapse and facilitate recovery. However, these drugs have no effect on the consequences of the relapse in terms of disability and residual symptoms.
Non-specific treatments
Multiple sclerosis can cause a wide variety of symptoms linked to damage to the central nervous system. Symptomatic treatments are available for some of them: for spasticity, for bladder-sphincter disorders, etc.
At the Paris Brain Institute
- Following a proof-of-concept study involving 30 patients in 2016, Ad Scientiam has published a large-scale multicentre study designed to compare the scores measured by the MSFC, a clinical test carried out in consultation by a neurologist, with those calculated by the MSCopilot® algorithms. Coordinated by Dr Elisabeth MAILLART and carried out in 11 MS expert centres, the study recruited 146 patients and 76 healthy volunteers, who took the standard paper tests and then the digital smartphone tests. In the presence of Pr Catherine LUBETZKI, neurologist and team leader at the Institut du Cerveau – ICM and Dr Elisabeth MAILLART, Ad Scientiam confirmed that with only 4 tests, the MSCopilot® score gathers infinitely more variables than standard tests, which enriches the data provided to the clinician. MSCopilot® is now a CE-marked class I medical software device for monitoring patients with multiple sclerosis.
- The ON-STIM trial, currently being conducted by Céline Louapre at the Paris Brain Institute, aims to promote remyelination after an episode of optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis patients using electrical stimulation.
Updated May 2024.