Therapy of relapsing multiple sclerosis. Treatment approaches for nonresponders

There is increasing impetus to begin disease-modifying therapy for relapsin g multiple (R-MS) early, before the development of irreversible tissue dama ge and resultant permanent disability. However, all of the currently-approv ed therapies for relapsing multiple sclerosis are only partially effective for patients as a group. Treatment failure can be due to noncompliance with therapy, intolerable adverse effects, the development of neutralizing anti bodies, or non-responsive disease. Neurologists managing patients on diseas e-modifying therapy for R-MS must remain vigilant for these issues and take appropriate action when necessary. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.