Gender differences in Multiple Sclerosis are well known, but do not enjoy the attention of investigators so much as pathology, treatments, environment and genetics.  

In recent years new findings in natural history, epidemiology, clinical course, genetics and environmental factors have shed light on gender aspects in Multiple Sclerosis. This has triggered treatment trials with estrogen like substances.  

A large amount of experimental material is available now on gender and hormones, on white matter turnover, EAE modulation, neuroprotection, pregnancy and maternal CNS, on recovery from spinal cord trauma, and on remyelination and oligodendrocyte proliferation. Intrinsicproperties of oligodendrocyte and myelin formation, age and gender, could be brought together[1].  

In retrospect the gender effect in recent large treatment trials with interferon beta, glatiramer acetate and IVIG should be reviewed.  

This symposium hopes to stimulate all these activities.  

O.R. Hommes  

Chairman  

European Charcot Foundation