[Therapy of multiple sclerosis].

The routine therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS) in world-wide use today is comprised of four measures: Antiinflammatory and antiedematous treatment with ACTH or Synacthen, respectively, and corticosteroids: only during acute episodes. - High dosage, short duration, no long-term therapy. Immunosuppression with azathioprine (Imurek): Due to the relatively high risk only to use in malignant courses (frequent and severe bouts). Basic therapy with unsaturated fatty acids (sunflower oil, Naudicelle). Influencing circumscribed target symptoms (spasticity, micturition difficulties, constipation, etc.). In addition, physiotherapeutic, psychagogic and, if necessary, nursing and social measures are included. More than a decade's experience with ultrasound therapy of the lymphatic ring as developed by Selzer in over 300 MS-patients gives the impression of a reduction in bout frequency and severity. A statistical evaluation of therapeutic efficiency has so far been impossible for well-known disease-specific reasons, which hold true for all MS-treatment methods. Great practical importance within a foreseeable space of time may be reached by efforts to influence disturbance in nerve conduction and synaptic transmission as specifically caused by the demyelination process. The successful medicinal deceleration of sodium inactivation, inhibition of potassium activation and extension of the action potential, as well as specifically influencing the neurotransmitters responsible for the disturbed synaptic transmission could lead to a total recovery or improvement of dysfunction in a great many cases. Such a "global symptomatic therapy" might indeed not change the course of disease, but bring about great progress to the patient.