Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 2nd Edition

This book focuses on key elements a healthcare practitioner needs to know to evaluate and manage multiple sclerosis (MS)and related neuroimmunological disorders. Information on disease history, pathophysiology, and biology are included to provide clinicians with a framework for understanding current diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment strategies for these disorders. In addition to reviewing disease-modifying treatments, the book focuses on frequent symptoms of MS and their treatment options. Assessment tools and treatment options for symptom management and rehabilitation have also evolved and become increasingly complex. Wellness promotion and patient-centered care are among the growing care strategies than can and should be applied to the management of MS. The goal of the book is to put together in one readily readable volume the core information that guides day-to-day care in an MS center. Each chapter is an amalgam of evidence-based data with experience-based guidance, combining the science and art of MS and related disease management. The authors present the approaches to care that they use in their centers. Where applicable, the authors provide lists of “Key Points” for clinicians as well as “Key Points” for patients and families. These highlights make the “gist” of each chapter clear and immediately available, and also provide a short summary that can be shared with patients. Critical-to-know information and management pearls are pulled out from the text and boxed for quick reference throughout the book. Illustrative cases are included in chapters where appropriate to amplify clinical recommendations. The authors made every effort to update the most recent medication changes, recognizing that this is a very fast changing field and we anticipate new medications in the near future. With this edition they have completed revised chapters on disease-modifying therapies, since there has been tremendous progress in this area.