Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with both inflammatory and neurodegenerative components and is the most common nontraumatic disabling neurologic condition in young adults.1,2 Although initial disease descriptions date to hundreds of years ago, therapeutic options were limited until the past several decades.
Before the availability of paraclinical tests, the diagnosis of MS necessitated demonstration of dissemination in time and space from a clinical standpoint, based on clinical history and neurologic examination findings. Contemporary diagnostic criteria also have been built on the principles of dissemination in space and dissemination in time and require demonstration of these features clinically or in conjunction with paraclinical tests, which typically include MRI and CSF studies
Treatment for MS focuses on managing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and reducing the frequency of relapses. Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made in the development of disease-modifying therapies for MS, greatly improving the management of the disease. These advancements have expanded treatment options, offering more effective and tailored approaches to slowing disease progression, reducing relapse rates, and enhancing patients’ quality of life.