Synopsis
This revised textbook examines the most important aspects of multiple sclerosis that impact on clinical trial design, on the development of new disease therapies, and, most importantly, on patient care. An international team of contributors discusses the clinical course of multiple sclerosis, its clinical heterogeneity, and the presence of subclinical disease activity which occurs during the early stages of the disease. There have been substantial advances in the field since the first edition was published in 1999. There are new chapters on functional imaging, the issues involved in long-term follow-up studies, cyclophosphamide, sex hormones and pregnancy-related factors, complementary and alternative treatments, management of cognitive impairment, treatment of pain, and rehabilitative approaches. Chapters on MS pathogenesis, imaging, the interferons, glatiramer acetate, mitoxantrone, IVIg, plasma exchange, stem cell transplantation, combination therapies, and newly-emerging treatments have been updated. This book is essential for any clinician who works with MS patients.