[Tailored therapy for multiple sclerosis].

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered as an autoimmune disease targeted to myelin and oligodendrocytes, which leads to inflammatory demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). MS is possibly a polygenetic and multifactorial disorder in which the interaction between various genetic and environmental factors could cause clinically and pathologically heterogeneous phenotypes. Most of the previous efforts to predict clinical courses, therapeutic responses, and prognosis of MS have been unsuccessful. However, pharma-cogenomic approach by using DNA microarray, protein chip, genome-wide analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism, and bioinformatics technology has been recently established. It would help us to understand the disease mechanisms, and to identify diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets, and to precisely predict therapeutic responses and adverse events. This comprehensive approach promotes the development of tailored therapy in MS as well as in other neurological disorders of complex etiology.