At present, there are no pharmacological agents to completely halt the progression of the disease. The available drugs try to stop the progression, mitigate the effects of the developing disease and enable the patient to function efficiently and independently. The disease follows a multi-stage course with periods of relapses, remissions, chronic complaints accompanying the patient and most often leading to permanent disability. Taking prompt and appropriate treatment is therefore very important.
Glatiramer acetate - glatiramer
The drug is used in patients with the darting remission form, while it is not used in the primary or secondary progressive form. Its role is to inhibit the immune response, via regulatory lymphocytes. It is rapidly degraded after injection. After administration of the drug, adverse reactions such as pain, erythema or itching at the injection site, flu-like symptoms, headaches, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased sweating, speech disorders and others may occur. The drug should not be used in pregnant women. The use of glatiramer acetate prevents relapses and reduces their severity.
Mitoxantrone (mitoxantrone, ATC L01DB)
It is classified as a cytostatic drug and is used most commonly in patients with S with secondary progressive and progressive-recurrent forms. It should not be used in patients with the primary progressive form of S. Studies have shown that mitoxantrone reduces the neurological impairment of affected individuals and the frequency of relapses.
Patients treated for S with this drug may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, diarrhoea, hair loss, cardiac arrhythmias, tachycardia, anorexia, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, fever and allergic reactions. These may resolve spontaneously or require additional medication or possible withdrawal of mitoxantrone.
Natalizumab
One of the new drugs used to combat S, it is used in patients with the darted and remission form, as monotherapy in patients with high disease activity and severe S. Natalizumab is a drug with a novel mechanism of action by blocking the passage of autoreactive lymphocytes from the blood to the brain. Importantly, it facilitates regeneration of the damaged myelin sheath. It has also been shown to stabilise the site of damage to the myelin sheath.Natalizumab therapy demonstrably reduces the number of S patients' casts, leads to inhibition of selected symptoms (removal of fatigue). An improvement in the quality of life of S patients is apparent with this drug.
Multiple sclerosis is one of the incurable diseases. However, attempts are being made all the time to combat this disease. It is imperative to find the most effective treatment for S . In recent years, there has been tremendous progress in the treatment of patients affected by S and, as we know, further research into new drugs is being conducted.
References:
- Stwardnienie rozsiane, ed. Scientific, J. Losy, Lublin 2013, Edition I Stwardnienie rozsiane, ed. Scientific translation J. Kotowicz, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL, Warsaw 2011. Stwardnienie rozsiane, K. Selmaj, Poznań 2006. Jakub Gołąb, Marek Jakóbisiak, Witold Lasek, Tomasz Stokłosa: Immunology. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Naukowe FOVN, 2011.
The information about drugs in the article is for informational purposes and should be regarded as additional knowledge about the agent. Any issues related to the use of drugs and their dosage should be consulted with your doctor. The editors are not responsible for the effects of the practical application of the information provided in the article.
