General introduction.- What is disease progression?.- Epidemiology of progressive multiple sclerosis -- The neuropathology of progressive multiple sclerosis -- Mechanisms of disease progression -- Imaging disease progression -- Biomarkers of disease progression -- Symptomatic treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis -- Current treatments for progressive multiple sclerosis: disease modifying therapies -- Future therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis.

Progressive multiple sclerosis places a huge burden on individuals, carers and society and treatment options are currently limited. However, there have been significant recent advances in understanding progressive disease and this book draws the field together into a single, accessible, clinically focused text. Progressive Multiple Sclerosis sets out the basic science, pathology, epidemiology and treatment possibilities in progressive multiple sclerosis. The biological processes underlying disease progression are elucidated as are specific pathophysiological mechanisms. The basic science of axonal degeneration and the clinical understanding of progressive multiple sclerosis are discussed in the context of emerging and future therapies for disease progression as are trials which might be conducted for progressive multiple sclerosis. An overview of biomarkers for the disease is included and existing symptomatic therapies for progressive multiple sclerosis are covered in detail. Each chapter addresses specific aspects of progressive multiple sclerosis providing an extensive review of the current literature and a discussion of the likely mechanisms of tissue injury relevant to the disease. Progressive Multiple Sclerosis is ideal for both general neurologists and those with a specialist interest in multiple sclerosis. It will also be of interest to neurologists in training and other medical professionals treating this common disease. Dr Alastair Wilkins is Senior Lecturer in Neurology, University of Bristol, and Consultant Neurologist at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK. He researches axonal injury in multiple sclerosis and related disorders.