Dalfampridine: a brief review of its mechanism of action and efficacy as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis

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Abstract
Background:Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause progressive walking impairment that contributes to disability, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life. Dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine), a voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker, has been shown to improve walking in patients with MS, as demonstrated by an increase in walking speed.Objective:To summarize knowledge about the mechanism of action of dalfampridine in the context of clinical evidence of walking improvement in MS patients.Methods:Although this was not a systematic review, which is the primary limitation of this study, searches of PubMed were performed using relevant search terms to identify studies that examined the mechanism of action related to MS and its effects in patients with MS in clinical trials.Results:Voltage-gated potassium channels represent a family of related proteins that span cell membranes, open and close in response to changes in the transmembrane potential, and help regulate ionic potassium currents. Action po...