Keeping up with scientific advances and practice changes can be one the biggest challenges in managing a complex disease like multiple sclerosis (MS).
The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) regularly publishes Best Practices statements on aspects of MS care. This month, a new "Best Practices in Multiple Sclerosis Therapies: 2025 Update" has been released on the organization's website [ https://www.mscare.org/best-practices-in-multiple-sclerosis-therapies/ ] and will be distributed at the upcoming CMSC Annual Meeting, May 28-31, 2025, in Phoenix, AZ. [ www.mscare.org/2025 ]
The 2025 Best Practices Update was developed by an expert faculty panel chaired by Fred D. Lublin, MD, a noted leader in MS care. "MS management changes on a regular basis," said Lublin, who is the Saunders Family Professor of Neurology and Director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. "We currently have refined diagnostic criteria, evolving disease classification, additional disease-modifying therapies, and newer biomarkers to detect changes in disease progression and treatment effects," he said.
Lublin and the other expert panelists convened to review the latest studies, ongoing scientific research, and treatment trends to design a practical document to address MS care providers' questions on topics such as:
- Evolving diagnostic and prognostic concepts in MS
- Use of serum and spinal fluid biomarkers
- Recent FDA approved MS therapies and emerging therapeutic categories
- Recommended vaccines for patients with MS
- Diagnosis and management of pediatric onset MS
- MS management for the aging population
- Pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD and MOGAD
While developing the Best Practices in MS Update, Lublin and other panelists held a symposium allowing other MS care providers to weigh in on how they treat MS, what works and what doesn't, and challenges they face in day-to-day practice. "As MS care providers, how we communicate with patients about their treatment and prognosis affects how they view their outlook for the future," Lublin said. "Best Practices documents like this help MS care providers to get on the same page."
The 2025 update follows a previous 2022 Best Practices document [ https://mscare.sharefile.com/share/view/s36f525b3783d490fb121e4db71fd67a6 ]
and was designed to expand on, rather than duplicate, this information, Lublin said. Both Best Practices documents were developed independently by the CMSC with support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, which had no influence or oversight in the planning or content.
About the CMSC
