Approaches to disease modification in MS

The following therapeutic strategies are accepted or are under investigation:

• non-specific immune suppression
  
  
• inhibition of interaction between T cell and antigen presenting cell
  
  
• interuption of lymphocyte migration into the central nervous system
  
  
• alteration of the balance of immune activation away from pro-inflammatory Th1 lymphocytes
  
  
• promotion of remyelination

In practise only beta-interferon has been shown to alter the activity of the disease and possibly to reduce disability. Intravenous immunoglobulin and glatitramer acetate are promising alternatives.