@article{358d41aad12d45c0aa696710e7afa970,
title = "Pharmacological treatment of early multiple sclerosis",
abstract = "Currently, six medications are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast, no pharmacological agent has proved to be effective in patients with secondary-progressive MS without relapses, or in patients with primary-progressive MS. One of the principal issues concerning an optimal pharmacotherapy for relapsing forms of MS is the optimal time of treatment initiation. There is now an almost universal consensus among MS experts that many patients will benefit from early therapy. However, several formidable challenges exist in identifying individuals who will benefit versus those who will do well without intervention. How do we define early MS and what clinical and paraclinical markers may be useful in defining the timing and nature of therapy? Do patients with a benign form of MS require therapy or are they exposed unnecessarily to adverse effects of our currently available medications? How do we identify disease progression and treatment failures? This review discusses these issues and outlines the evidence for application of 'early' treatment in patients with relapsing forms of MS.",
keywords = "Interferon beta 1a, therapeutic use, Interferon beta 1b, therapeutic use, Multiple sclerosis, treatment",
author = "Olaf Stuve and Bennett, {Jeffrey L.} and Bernhard Hemmer and Heinz Wiendl and Racke, {Michael K.} and Amit Bar-Or and Wei Hu and Robert Zivadinov and Weber, {Martin S.} and Zamvil, {Scott S.} and Pacheco, {Maria Fides Manago} and Til Menge and Hartung, {Hans Peter} and Kieseier, {Bernd C.} and Elliot Frohman",
note = "Funding Information: No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. All of the authors contributed to the design, data analysis and preparation of this review article. Dr Bennett is a consultant for and has received honoraria from EMD-Serono, Pfizer, Teva Neurosciences and Biogen-Idec. Dr Hemmer has received consultancies, honoraria and grants from Roche, Imgen, Biogen-Idec, Merck-Serono, Bayer and Teva-Aventis. Dr Wiendl has received honoraria for lecturing, travel expenses for attending meetings and financial support for research from Biogen-Idec, Medac, sanofi-aven-tis, Schering, Merck-Serono and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Dr Racke has received compensation for consulting with Genentech Inc. and Teva Neurosciences, and is on the Speaker{\textquoteright}s Bureau for Bayer, Serono and Teva Neurosciences. Dr Zivadinov has received honoraria for speaking engagements and participation in consultant forums from Teva, Biogen, Pfizer and Serono, and has received research grants from Teva, Biogen, Aspreva and Serono. All the other authors report that they have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.",
year = "2008",
doi = "10.2165/00003495-200868010-00005",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "68",
pages = "73--83",
journal = "Drugs",
issn = "0012-6667",
publisher = "Adis International Ltd",
number = "1",
}