The treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with immunomodulatory drugs, and more recently, with immunosuppressive drugs, have modified the natural history of the disease in the last years. The conclusions and recommendations elaborated by several authors based upon multicenter studies make us review and update concepts, proposing modifications to government institutions in order to improve the assistance to MS patients, the main purpose of this work. Herein, the Neuroimmunology Scientific Department of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology judged important to update the recommendations concerning MS diagnosis criteria, classification of progression patterns, foundation of reference centers and the use of immunomodulatory drugs.