Management of an acute multiple sclerosis relapse typically includes which therapy?

• A. Methylprednisone alone
• B. Interferon beta
• C. Methylprednisone +/- plasmapheresis
• D. Rituximab

Answer: (C)

In an acute MS relapse, the priority is to rapidly quell CNS inflammation to hasten recovery. High-dose intravenous methylprednisone is the standard therapy for this purpose, as it speeds neurologic improvement compared with no treatment. If the relapse is severe or recovery is incomplete after steroids, plasmapheresis can be added because it helps remove circulating autoantibodies and inflammatory mediators that drive demyelination, and it can improve outcomes in steroid-refractory cases.

Disease-modifying therapies like interferon beta or rituximab aren’t used to treat the acute relapse itself; they aim to reduce relapse frequency and long-term progression, not to address the immediate inflammatory attack. So the typical management for an acute MS relapse is methylprednisone, with the addition of plasmapheresis if the steroid response is inadequate or the relapse is particularly severe.