Our reviews

What is a systematic review?

A systematic review attempts to identify, appraise and synthesize all the empirical evidence that meets pre-specified eligibility criteria to answer a specific research question. Researchers conducting systematic reviews use explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view aimed at minimizing bias, to produce more reliable findings to inform decision making.

What is a Cochrane Review?

A Cochrane Review is a systematic review of research in health care and health policy that is published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Check out more info about the different types of Cochrane Reviews at this link.

Our Reviews

We have so far published several reviews and protocols evaluating the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for multiple sclerosis and rare diseases of the CNS.

Usually, we have new reviews and protocols that are currently going through the editorial process and will be published in forthcoming issues of the Cochrane Library.

The abstracts of all Cochrane Reviews have been translated into Italian. Anyone interested in receiving a copy of an abstract is invited to contact us.

Looking for a quick overview of a Cochrane Review but not familiar with medical jargon? Explore our resources, where we break down the key points of reviews in a simple and accessible way: Review Snapshots & Blogshots

Below you can find a comprehensive list of our reviews and on-going protocols.

Our Reviews

Status	Stage
New Updated	Protocol Review

Pharmacological interventions for Multiple Sclerosis (37)
- Aminopyridine (1)
  - Aminopyridines for symptomatic treatment in multiple sclerosis
- Biologics (7)
  - Alemtuzumab (2)
    Alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis
    alemtuzumab versus interferon beta 1a for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Daclizumab (1)
    Daclizumab for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Natalizumab (1)
    Natalizumab for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Ocrelizumab (1)
    Ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis
  - Rituximab (2)
    Rituximab for people with multiple sclerosis
    Rituximab for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
  - T-cell vaccination (0)
- Immunosuppressants (9)
  - Azathioprine (2)
    Azathioprine for people with multiple sclerosis
    Azathioprine for multiple sclerosis
  - Bone Marrow Transplantation (0)
  - Cladribine (1)
    Cladribine for people with multiple sclerosis
  - Cyclosphosphamide (1)
    Cyclophosphamide for multiple sclerosis
  - Cyclosporin A (0)
  - Fingolimod (1)
    Fingolimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Methotrexate (1)
    Methotrexate for multiple sclerosis
  - Mitoxantrone (1)
    Mitoxantrone for multiple sclerosis
  - Teriflunomide (1)
    Teriflunomide for multiple sclerosis
  - Mycophenolate Mofetil (1)
    Mycophenolate mofetil for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Total Lymphoid Irradiation (0)
- Immunomodulators (10)
  - Dimethyl fumarate (1)
    Dimethyl fumarate for multiple sclerosis
  - Glatiramer acetate (1)
    Glatiramer acetate for multiple sclerosis
  - Immunoglobulins (1)
    Intravenous immunoglobulins for multiple sclerosis
  - Interferons: recombinant alpha-2a, recombinant beta-1a and beta-1b (5)
    Interferons-beta versus glatiramer acetate for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
    Interferon beta for secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
    Interferon in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
    Recombinant interferon beta or glatiramer acetate for delaying conversion of the first demyelinating event to multiple sclerosis
    Interferon Beta for Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
  - Interleukine(s) (0)
  - Laquinimod (0)
  - Ozanimod (1)
    Ozanimod for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
  - Plasma Exchange (0)
  - Siponimod (1)
    Siponimod for multiple sclerosis
- Immunotherapies (4)
- Statins (1)
  - Statins for multiple sclerosis
- Steroids (3)
- Vitamins (1)
  - Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis
- Others (1)
  - Sodium channel blockers for neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis
Non pharmacological interventions for Multiple Sclerosis (19)
Non pharmacological interventions for symptons of Multiple Sclerosis (1)
- Chronic pain (1)
  - Non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis
- Multiple symptoms (0)
- Spasticity (0)
Palliative Care for Multiple Sclerosis (1)
- Palliative care interventions for people with multiple sclerosis
Prognosis (1)
- Overall prognosis (0)
- Predictive/Treatment selection factors (0)
- Prognostic factors (0)
- Prognostic models (1)
  - Prognostic models for predicting clinical disease progression, worsening and activity in people with multiple sclerosis
Symptomatic treatments (Pharmacological Interventions) for Multiple Sclerosis (11)
- Cognitive problems (1)
  - Pharmacological treatment for memory disorder in multiple sclerosis
- Seizures (1)
  - Treatment of seizures in multiple sclerosis
- Spasticity (1)
  - Baclofen (0)
  - Benzodiazepine (0)
  - Botulinum toxin (0)
  - Dantrolene (0)
  - Tizanidine (0)
  - Anti-spastic drugs/interventions (1)
    Anti-spasticity agents for multiple sclerosis
- Treatment for movement disorder (1)
  - Botulinum Toxin (0)
  - Clonazepam (0)
  - Dalfampridine (0)
  - Gabapentin (0)
  - Pregabalin (0)
  - Primidone (0)
  - Treatments/interventions for ataxia/tremor (1)
    Treatment for ataxia in multiple sclerosis
- Psychological-Emotional problems (1)
  - Benzodiazepine (0)
  - Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) (0)
  - Other pharmacological interventions (1)
    Pharmacologic treatment of depression in multiple sclerosis
  - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) (0)
  - Tricyclic antidepressant (0)
- Urinary problems (0)
  - Imipramine (0)
  - Propantheline (0)
  - Spastic bladder (0)
    Anticholinergic agents (0)
    Baclofen (0)
    Diazepam (0)
  - Urinary frequency and urgency (0)
    Desmopressin, Vasopressin (0)
    Oxybutynin (0)
  - Urinary hesitancy (0)
    Phenoxybenzamine (0)
    Terazosin (0)
  - Urinary tract infections (UTI) (0)
  - Urinary urgency and incontinence (0)
    Bethane (0)
    Carbamazepine (0)
    Imiprenine (0)
    Tolterodine (0)
- Bowel problems (0)
- Dizziness and Vertigo (0)
  - Dimenhydrinate (0)
  - Diphenhydramine (0)
  - Meclizine (0)
  - Prochlorperazine (0)
  - Scopolamine (0)
- Fatigue (2)
  - Amantadine (1)
    Amantadine for fatigue in multiple sclerosis
  - Carnitine (1)
    Carnitine for fatigue in multiple sclerosis
  - Fluoxetine (0)
  - Modafinil (0)
  - Pemoline (0)
- Pain and Dysaesthesia (1)
  - Amitriptyline (0)
  - Carbamazepine (0)
  - Desipramine (0)
  - Doxepin (0)
  - Gabapentin (0)
  - Imipramine (0)
  - Multiple treatments (1)
    Pharmacological treatment for chronic central neuropathic pain in people with multiple sclerosis
  - Phentoin (0)
  - Protriptyline (0)
  - Topiramate (0)
  - Ziconotide (0)
  - Zonisamide (0)
- Sexual dysfunctions (2)
  - Prostaglandins (1)
    Prostaglandin E1 for treatment of erectile dysfunction
  - Sildenafil (1)
    Sildenafil citrate for erectile dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis
- Symptoms (1)
  - Cannabis and cannabinoids for symptomatic treatment for people with multiple sclerosis
Health services for Multiple Sclerosis (2)
- Multiple intervention modalities (inpatient, outpatient, day-hospital, home treatment) (0)
- Delivery of care (0)
- Information provision to patients and caregivers (1)
  - Information provision for people with multiple sclerosis
- Patient education programmes (1)
  - Patient education for fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis
- Physical and transportation barriers (0)
- Preventive health care (services) (0)
  - Falls (0)
- Rehabilitation services (0)
Outcome Measures (0)
- Clinical outcomes and natural history (0)
- Immunological-devised outcomes (0)
- Resonance Imaging-devised outcomes (0)
Vaccinations (0)
Rare Diseases of the Central Nervous System (3)
- Inflammatory disorders (1)
  - Encephalomyelitis (1)
    Disseminated encephalomyelitis (0)
    Myelitis (0)
    Encephalitis (1)
    Intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of childhood encephalitis
  - Neuromyelitis optica (0)
  - Neurosarcoidosis (0)
- Hereditary disorders (0)
  - Choreoacanthocytosis (0)
  - Familial spastic paraplegia (0)
  - Storage disease (0)
    Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses (0)
  - Leukodystrophies (0)
- Infectious disorders (1)
  - Prevention of CSF-shunt infection (1)
    Route of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of cerebrospinal fluid-shunt infection
  - Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (0)
  - Whipple disease (0)
- Mitochondrial disorders (0)
  - Leber disease (0)
  - Melas syndrome (0)
- Other disorders (0)
- Vasculitis disorders (1)
  - Neuro-Behçet disease (1)
    Biologics, colchicine, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and interferon-alpha for Neuro-Behçet's Syndrome
  - Churg-Strauss syndrome (0)
  - Cogan syndrome (0)
  - Giant cell arteritis (0)
  - Wegener granulomatosis (0)