General Principles of Immunotherapy in Neurological Diseases

Immunotherapy has changed the prognosis and outcome of many neuroimmunological diseases. In neurology, immunotherapy aims to suppress or modulate the immune system. Due to the heterogeneity of immunological diseases, not all of the therapeutics are equally suited for different disorders. Thus, it is of importance to understand the pathophysiological and immunological background of the underlying disease as well as the mode of action of the various therapeutic agents. The aim of this chapter is to give an overview on the fundamental principles of the immune system. Selected diseases are presented to show the variety of the respective pathophysiological concepts. The last part describes the immune therapies that are frequently used in neuroimmunological diseases with the mode of action and effects on the immune system. This chapter is aimed at clinicians who treat neuroimmunological diseases and is intended to provide an overview of the drugs available and to facilitate the decision to find the right drug for the right patient.