The invention concerns a novel treatment multiple sclerosis, based on induced anaemia, followed by administration of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). In a preferred embodiment, the ESA is darbopoietin alpha, CERA or Hematide. The anaemia is induced by successive bloodlettings or by administration of an iron chelator, such as deferiprone, deferoxamine, polyanionic amines, substituted polyaza compounds, desferrithiocon, hydroxybenzyl-ethylenediamine-diacetic acid and pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydra z one.