Role of magnetic resonance imaging and immunotherapy in treating multiple sclerosis.

Significant advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been made during the past decade. These advances have revealed evidence of profound heterogeneity in MS. There is a clear need to revisit the key issues in MS pathogenesis and treatment strategies, taking new data into consideration. This paper provides an overview of recent progress in MS research, including (a) a review of clinical, pathologic, and immunologic aspects of MS, (b) a discussion of the mechanism of action of currently available disease-modifying drugs for MS, (c) an account of the role of MRI in clinical management and clinical trials in MS, and (d) an overview of some emerging treatments for MS.