Which disease-modifying agent may reduce MS relapses but is not a first-line treatment for an acute MS flare?

Which disease-modifying agent may reduce MS relapses but is not a first-line treatment for an acute MS flare?

• A. Interferon Beta
• B. Glatiramer Acetate
• C. Fingolimod
• D. Prednisone

Answer: (C)

In multiple sclerosis, there’s a distinction between therapies that modify the disease course (reducing relapses over time) and treatments used to manage an acute flare. Fingolimod is a disease-modifying therapy that lowers relapse rates and slows new lesion formation, making it a choice for long-term control. But it is not used as first-line therapy for an acute MS flare, where the standard initial treatment is high-dose corticosteroids to hasten recovery. DMTs like interferon beta and glatiramer acetate also aim to reduce relapses over time, not to treat an acute flare. Prednisone, by contrast, is a corticosteroid used to treat an active relapse rather than to modify long-term disease activity.

In multiple sclerosis, there’s a distinction between therapies that modify the disease course (reducing relapses over time) and treatments used to manage an acute flare. Fingolimod is a disease-modifying therapy that lowers relapse rates and slows new lesion formation, making it a choice for long-term control. But it is not used as first-line therapy for an acute MS flare, where the standard initial treatment is high-dose corticosteroids to hasten recovery. DMTs like interferon beta and glatiramer acetate also aim to reduce relapses over time, not to treat an acute flare. Prednisone, by contrast, is a corticosteroid used to treat an active relapse rather than to modify long-term disease activity.