Primary progressive multiple sclerosis: progress and challenges

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013 Oct;84(10):1100-6. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304140. Epub 2013 Feb 16.

Abstract

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been recognised as presenting great difficulties to our management of what is increasingly a treatable neurological disease. Here we review some basic and clinical aspects of primary progressive MS, and describe how the disorder in fact offers powerful insights and opportunities for better understanding multiple sclerosis, and from a practical perspective an invaluable clinical substrate for studying and treating progressive disability in MS. Difficult hurdles remain, however, and these too are reviewed.

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / pathology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / diagnosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / pathology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / therapy
  • Nerve Growth Factors / therapeutic use
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Stem Cell Transplantation

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors