Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic central nervous system (CNS) disease that is progressive and has no current cure. In the United States (U.S.), MS affects nearly one million patients. More than 10,000 are newly diagnosed with MS annually. Due to its effects on movement, sensation, vision, and other domains, MS can severely hinder a person’s ability to walk, cook, work, enjoy hobbies, and achieve life goals, leading to significant impact on quality of life. Similarly, in studies of health, physical functioning, and social functioning, patients with MS have worse ratings compared with those with other chronic diseases.
Medications such as immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can delay this damage and slow the resulting progressive phase, thus helping maintain quality of life. Similarly, these DMTs can reduce frequency of attacks or breakthrough disease activity in RRMS. However, a one-size-fits-all approach does not work when appropriately treating patients with MS. Within a given patient and treatment course, new MS symptoms may become unmasked, adverse events may emerge, or a medication may simply lose effectiveness. From here, clinicians are signaled that a change in medication course may be needed. To make an informed decision, clinicians need to understand the rationale behind medication choices and the risks and benefits of DMTs available.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category CreditsTM
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