Review

Symptomatic Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Consensus Group (MSTCG) of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society
T. Henze^a, P. Rieckmann^b, K.V. Toyka<sup>b

a</sup>Reha-Zentrum Nittenau, Rehabilitationszentrum für Neurologie, Nittenau, and
^bDepartment of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Neurol 2006;56:78-105 (DOI: 10.1159/000095699)

  Key Words

• Multiple sclerosis
• Symptomatic treatment
• Consensus guidelines
• Expert opinion
• Evidence-based medicine

  Abstract

Besides immunomodulation and immunosuppression, the specific treatment of symptoms is an essential component of the overall management of multiple sclerosis (MS). Symptomatic treatment is aimed at the elimination or reduction of symptoms impairing the functional abilities and quality of life of the affected patients. Moreover, with symptomatic treatment the development of a secondary physical impairment due to an existing one may be avoided. Many therapeutic techniques as well as different drugs are used for the treatment of MS symptoms, but only a few of them have been investigated, especially in MS patients, and are approved by the national health authorities. Despite an overwhelming number of publications, only a few evidence-based studies exist and consensus reports are very rare, too. Therefore, it seemed necessary to develop a consensus statement on symptomatic treatment of MS comprising existing evidence-based literature as well as therapeutic experience of neurologists who have dealt with these problems over a long time. This consensus paper contains proposals for the treatment of the most common MS symptoms: disorders of motor function and coordination, of cranial nerve function, of autonomic, cognitive, and psychological functions as well as MS-related pain syndromes and epileptic seizures.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

T. Henze, MD
Reha-Zentrum Nittenau, Rehabilitationszentrum für Neurologie
Eichendorffstrasse 21, DE-93149 Nittenau (Germany)
Tel. +49 9436 950 800, Fax +49 9436 950 818
E-Mail t.henze@rz-ni.de

  Article Information

¹ Members of the MSTCG and the Writing Group are: Switzerland: C. Bassetti (Zürich), K. Beer (St. Gallen), S. Beer (Valens), U. Buettner (Aarau), M. Chofflon (Genf), M. Götschi-Fuchs (Knoblisbühl), K. Hess (Zürich), L. Kappos (Basel), J. Kesselring (Valens), H.-P. Ludin (St. Gallen), H. Mattle (Bern), M. Schluep (Lausanne), C. Vaney (Montana-Vermala). Austria: U. Baumhackl (St. Pölten), T. Berger (Innsbruck), F. Deisenhammer (Innsbruck), F. Fazekas (Graz), M. Freimüller (Hermagor), H. Kollegger (Wien), W. Kristoferitsch (Wien), H. Lassmann (Wien), H. Markut (Vöcklabruck), S. Strasser-Fuchs (Graz), K. Vass (Wien). Germany: H. Albrecht (Berg), H. Altenkirch (Berlin), A. Bayas (Augsburg), R. Benecke (Rostock), W. Brück (Göttingen), M. Buttmann (Würzburg), A. Chan (Göttingen), M. Daumer (München), D. Dommasch (Bielefeld), W.G. Elias (Hamburg), E. Fasshauer (Thüringen), W. Feneberg (Berg), P. Flachenecker (Bad Wildbad), C. Frischholz (Würzburg), A. Gass (Mannheim/Basel), W. Gehlen (Bochum), N. Goebels (Zürich), R. Gold (Bochum), J. Haas (Berlin), G. Haferkamp (Hannover), P. Haller (Osnabrück), H.-P. Hartung (Düsseldorf), M. Haupts (Bochum), C. Heesen (Hamburg), M. Heibel (Ha- chen), F. Heidenreich (Hannover), B. Hemmer (Düsselddorf), T. Henze (Nittenau), R. Hohlfeld (München), R.W.C. Janzen (Frankfurt/Main), S. Jung (Homburg), E. Jügelt (Sundern/Hachen), B. Kallmann (Würzburg), B. Kieseier (Düsseldorf), C. Kleinschnitz (Würzburg), J. Köhler (Mainz), W. Kölmel (Erfurt), N. König (Berg), G. Lehrieder (Bad Windsheim), V. Leussink (Düsseldorf), K. Lowitzsch (Ludwigshafen), M. Mäurer (Würzburg/Erlangen), U. Manegold (Göttingen), A. Melms (Tübingen), J. Mertin (Amtzell), O. Neuhaus (Düsseldorf), P. Oschmann (Gieen), H.-F. Petereit (Köln), M. Pette (Dresden), D. Pöhlau (Asbach), W. Pöllmann (Berg), D. Pohl (Göttingen/Zürich), P. Rieckmann (Würzburg), K. Ruprecht (Würzburg/Homburg), M. Sailer (Magdeburg), H. Schipper (Bernburg), S. Schmidt (Bonn), G. Schock (Gera), M. Schulz (Ueckermünde), S. Schwarz (Mannheim), G. Schwendemann (Bremen), D. Seidel (Isselburg), N. Sommer (Marburg), M. Starck (Berg), M. Stangel (Hannover), E. Stark (Offenbach), A. Steinbrecher (Regensburg), G. Stoll (Würzburg), K.V. Toyka (Würzburg), H. Tumani (Ulm), R. Voltz (Köln), K.-P. Wandinger (Berlin), F. Weber (München), F. Weilbach (Bad Kissingen), W. Weinrich (Hannover), R. Weissert (Tübingen), H. Wiendl (Würzburg), H. Wiethölter (Stuttgart), U.K. Zettl (Rostock), F. Zipp (Berlin), R. Zschenderlein (Berlin).

Received: March 9, 2006
Accepted: July 12, 2006
Published online: September 8, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 28
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 272