A hopeful clue for resistant MS. - Free Online Library
A small study provides a further clue that a chemotherapy drug--cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)--may stabilize some very active forms of MS that haven't responded to standard treatments. This immunosuppressive drug reduces the number of immune cells in the body. In MS, this would theoretically slow down the immune attack on the brain and spinal cord.
The study involved 12 participants: 7 people with secondary-progressive and 5 with relapsing-remitting MS. All had severe MS that did not respond to other treatments. Each received the drug dose over 4 days.
For two years after treatment, these people had periodic MRIs, neurologic exams, quality-of-life evaluations, and assessments using a scale that measures disability, called the EDSS.
The results: their MRIs showed no new areas of brain damage and no active inflammation. Walking, bladder control, and vision improved. Participants reported better quality of life. On the disability scale, 5 people lowered their scores and 7 had very small increases. No one was hospitalized for adverse effects after treatment.
While the results of this very small study are encouraging, its success was based on only 12 people who met a narrow set of criteria. This type of aggressive immune suppression may not work for everyone with resistant MS and it comes with serious short- and long-term risks. Larger, controlled trials are vital to see if the risks can be minimized.
These findings were reported in the October 2006 issue of Archives of Neurology.