Andalusian neurologists discuss the new therapeutic alternatives for multiple sclerosis in Cádiz

-in Spain between 35,000 and 40,000 people suffering from this disease

-La Andaluza Neurology society closed its 34TH annual meeting with a round table on new forms of treatment of this disease

-the first oral drug, Fingolimod, has recently been approved by the European Medicines Agency

Cádiz, 2011-October multiple sclerosis (MS) has Spain a 3-5 annual incidence cases/100,000 inhabitants and a prevalence of at least 80 cases/100,000 inhabitants, in a way such that, in our country, have the disease a few 35.000/40.000 people and is chronic neurological disease crippling mácommon in young adults s ”, explains Dr. Óscar Fernández in his lecture on new forms of treatment of multiple sclerosis in the XXXIV meeting annual of the society Andalusian of Neurology (SAN), which ended Saturday in the Palace of congresses of Cádiz.

At the present time several therapeutic lines can be distinguished. The first are immunomodulators (interferon beta, G intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange and glatiramer acetate). A study has been completed recently, after the first clinical episode of the disease, which demonstrates the usefulness of NBFI-1st sc once or three times per week, which will allow expanding the range of doses available to treat patients since the beginning of the disease. Efficiency is much higher as soon as possible start treatment ”.

In the second line are the immunosuppressants, both registered (natalizumab, Mitoxantrone, azathioprine) and unregistered (methotrexate, cyclophosphamide). Recently it has been described an analytical determination allowing employment to safety of natalizumab, very effective drug, which will help improve the treatment of multiple sclerosis immediately. In the third line are located the combined therapy and autologous transplantation of bone marrow, which can be used in the clinic in cases of bad evolution, when other treatments have failed ”, continues Dr. Fernández.

Finally, in the fourth line, are less developed therapies: the neuroprotection and therapy with stem cells, which are unknown to both the efficacy and the toxicity, so it should be considered, today, merely experimental treatments.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recently approved the fingolimod for use as a drug of second line, which will mean an important innovation, being the first modern drug by mouth and present very remarkable efficacy and safety data. On this subject has also talked about the left doctor Guillermo, who assured that this treatment has shown an efficiency exceeding conventional immunomodulators, with a very good safety profile over the medium term.