Treatment and diagnostics for abroad

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system. In MS, the nerve sheath (myelin) is destroyed, which impairs the transmission of nerve signals. Typical symptoms include pain, tingling or burning throughout the body, loss of vision, difficulty moving, muscle spasms, and memory impairment.

The diagnosis is made by a neurologist after examining the patient. To confirm MS, an MRI scan, an assessment of cerebrospinal fluid, and a blood test are prescribed. Most patients are diagnosed with recurrent multiple sclerosis (RRS), when symptoms can appear and go away. But over time, the disease often develops into a progressive type (symptoms worsen without remission).

Treatment of multiple sclerosis

MS cannot be completely cured yet. However, there are many effective medications available to alleviate the symptoms:

• for long-term treatment (slowing down the activity and progression of sclerosis), currently 15 drugs have been approved, among them Okrevus;
• to reduce the severity and duration of relapse, Methylprednisolone is often used;
• to manage symptoms, medications are selected individually, for example, with seizures, a doctor may prescribe the drug Lyrica.

New drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis abroad

New drugs are available to patients abroad that help to control MS in the long term.

• "Ghylenia." This is the first drug for patients with RRS, it was approved in 2010. Reports show that Gilenia can halve relapses and slow the progression of the disease.
• "Teriflunomide." Slows down the development of the disease and can prevent the transition to a progressive stage, approved in 2012.
• "Dimethyl Fumarate" (2013). It does not allow the immune system to attack itself and destroy myelin, it acts like antioxidants.
• "Dalfampridine" (2010). There are channels on the surface of nerve fibers. Blocking them can improve the transmission of nerve signals. "Dalfampridine" is a potassium channel blocker. It helps to increase the muscular strength of the legs and makes it possible to move faster.
• "Alemtuzumab" (2014). This monoclonal antibody (a protein that destroys cancer cells) reduces the number of recurrences. It targets the CD52 protein on the surface of immune cells.

Clinical trials in the treatment of MS abroad

Patients who are undergoing treatment for multiple sclerosis abroad can participate in clinical trials of innovative drugs. One of these methods is therapy with myelin peptides (protein fragments). During the first trials, patients wore a patch with peptides for a year. As a result, those who received treatment had significantly fewer MS recurrences than the control group taking the placebo.

Patients can also undergo experimental stem cell treatment abroad. Stem cell transplantation has been shown to cause long-term remission of multiple sclerosis.