Prospects for neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis.

Axonal injury and neuronal loss are now recognised to be hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS) in addition to neuroinflammation and demyelination. This review discusses the factors that contribute to neural degeneration, and it emphasizes the need to confer neuroprotection in MS. The beneficial role of neuroinflammation is highlighted, and the possibility that glatiramer acetate enables neuroprotection in MS through beneficial inflammation is evaluated. Finally, the prospect of an experimental treatment, minocycline, in producing neuroprotection in MS is suggested.