Immunotherapies in progressive multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, with both genetic and environmental risk factors. While traditionally, a relapsing and progressive disease course has been distinguished, it has increasingly become evident that elements of progression are the dominant factor for accumulating MS-related neurologic disability across all clinical courses and can be detected throughout the full disease trajectory in patients with MS. Therefore, defining the dominant pathophysiologic processes driving progression has become indispensable. Pathologic hallmarks of progressive MS include a compartmentalized inflammation within the central nervous system as well as associated neurodegenerative processes, finally leading to neuroaxonal and synaptic loss. Growing understanding of the pathophysiology has led to the development of an increasing number of targeted immunomodulatory treatment approaches for progressive MS. With the development of novel clinical trial designs and the evolution of clinical and paraclinical measures allowing accurate and rapid assessment of progression, new opportunities for personalized treatment regimens are likely to emerge.