Great progress in the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis in Serbia

For the first time, the cutting-edge highly effective therapies for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis are available in Serbia, and a modern strategy for the treatment of this serious disease has been adopted. English experts point out Serbia as an example of a country where great progress has been made.

Since the middle of last year, all medicines used to treat patients with multiple sclerosis in developed countries in Europe and the world, are available in Serbia owing to substantial funds allocated by the state. To the joy of patients and their families, but also doctors who deal with the treatment of this serious disease, it can be said that great progress has been made in this field. To the joy of patients and their families, but also doctors who treat this severe disease, it can be said that great progress has been made in this field.

‘It is crucial that we in Serbia have adopted the latest strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The concept insists on preserving the health of the brain by reducing the inflammatory process in the brain, which is the main characteristic of multiple sclerosis in the pathological and pathophysiological sense, as much as possible, and thus the activity of the disease itself will be reduced. How is this achieved? Precisely by applying appropriate drugs and at the earliest possible stage of disease development’, explains Prof. Dr. Jelena Drulović, Head of the Department of Immune-Mediated CNS Diseases of the Neurology Clinic at the University Clinical Centre of Serbia.

Revolutionary change in treatment

Multiple sclerosis cannot be treated, as most chronic diseases, but with adequate treatment, the disease becomes much less severe, and the quality of life of patients much better.

‘In Serbia, for the first time, the state-of-the-art highly effective therapies have become available, among others, with monoclonal antibodies that include: natalizumab, alemtuzumab and ocrelizumab. This is a revolutionary change because, specifically, the drug ocrelizumab, for the first time, enables the treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis, a form of the disease for which there has been no cure so far. Now, however, these patients with often severe disabilities are experiencing slowing down of the disease progression with the mentioned drug, which is of great importance for them multiple’, explains Prof. Drulović.

The introduced changes have made it possible to double the number of patients treated with the latest therapies. Medicines, for now, are not available for all patients, but for those who need them the most.

‘This is a perfect result, especially when we know that it is happening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the state, despite the difficult situation, has managed to allocate substantial funds and provide the highest-quality therapy. At the Neurology Clinic in Belgrade, we are currently treating about 1,500 patients with these drugs. It is a very complex treatment that requires special preparation, but also subsequent monitoring of patients, their laboratory findings, MRI, clinical features… For the first time we are able to offer our patients to be treated in the best possible way. The introduction of this therapy precisely at the time of the Covid-19 epidemic was a huge challenge. We are proud that this has been recognized outside the borders of our country, so colleagues from England point out Serbia as an example of good practice in terms of progress in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, stating in professional blogs that it is an excellent example of successful cooperation between patients, the Ministry of Health and the Republic Health Insurance Fund, as well as other healthcare and government institutions’, emphasizes Prof. Dr. Jelena Drulović.

At the same time, the number of patients treated with moderately effective therapies has significantly increased.

‘That is correct. But in addition to injection therapies of different interferon beta drugs and other medicines of that type, oral therapies, i.e. tablets have been introduced for the first time, which is also significant as there is a certain number of patients with a serious fear from needs and they are not willing to receive them’ adds Drulović.

Safe pregnancy is also possible

Great progress has been made in the treatment of pregnant women with MS.

‘During the last year, it was shown that interferon beta drugs can be used freely during pregnancy and even breastfeeding, while in the year before that, the safety of glatiramer acetate medications was proven. If we know that MS is twice as common in women, then this is a great relief and good news for our female patients. Earlier, it was even recommended to avoid pregnancy, while today all women who want to become mothers and suffer from MS can give birth freely’, says Prof. Dr. Jelena Drulović.

Veliki napredak u lečenju obolelih od multiple skleroze u Srbiji

Owing to the cutting-edge therapies, huge progress was made in treating pregnant women suffering from MS.