Multiple Sclerosis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Neuroimmune Pharmacology

Abstract

Demyelinating diseases encompass a range of acute and chronic diseases affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Many of these diseases share elements of autoimmune etiology, such as the presence of autoreactive T cells and B cells producing autoantibodies, followed by cell- and complement-mediated tissue damage, often following viral infection. The most common chronic demyelinating disease is multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Histologically, the disease is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the CNS with oligodendrocyte loss, but its etiology is complex and not fully understood. Epidemiological studies implicate both environmental and genetic factors in its pathogenesis. Approved pharmaceutical treatments are predominantly immunosuppressive agents targeting the inflammatory components of disease. This review will highlight the mechanisms by which these treatments are understood to interact with the complex cast of inflammatory mediators present in MS pathogenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven Jacobson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Falk, I., Jacobson, S. (2017). Multiple Sclerosis. In: Ikezu, T., Gendelman, H. (eds) Neuroimmune Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44022-4_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation