PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nicholas, Jacqueline A.
AU  - Boster, Aaron L.
AU  - Racke, Michael K.
TI  - Multiple sclerosis
AID  - 10.1212/CPJ.0b013e3182a78f94
DP  - 2013 Oct 01
TA  - Neurology: Clinical Practice
PG  - 404--412
VI  - 3
IP  - 5
4099  - http://cp.neurology.org/content/3/5/404.short
4100  - http://cp.neurology.org/content/3/5/404.full
AB  - Preliminary studies have suggested that a high salt diet may play a role in the development of autoimmune disease and possibly multiple sclerosis (MS). Promising clinical trial results for 2 new therapies for MS have been reported. Dimethyl fumarate, also known by its investigational name BG-12, became the third oral disease-modifying therapy for MS to be Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved in March 2013. Interestingly, dimethyl fumarate served as the active compound used for the treatment of psoriasis for decades. Alemtuzumab remains under investigation and is not currently FDA-approved for treatment of MS. Other drugs currently approved for alternative indications are being investigated for use in MS. Additionally, an investigation of alternative dosing strategies for glatiramer acetate suggests that patients may benefit from a higher dose formulation and less frequent medication administration. Advances in basic science research have identified another potential autoantigenic target in MS, KIR4.1, which may provide further insight into MS pathophysiology.