24-month follow-up of multiple sclerosis patients treated with cyclophosphamide

Abstract

15 patients with remitting-progressive multiple sclerosis received a course of intravenous cyclophosphamide followed by a booster dose every 60 days for 2 years. There were no severe short or medium term side effects. Half of the patients presented clinical stabilization and substantially unchanged Kurtzke rating at 2 year follow-up. Since the aim was stabilization only, our findings argue for continuation of the study in young patients with very short shift.

Treatment of multiple sclerosis with cyclophosphamide: critical review of clinical and immunologic effects

“…69 Killian et al treated 14 relapsingremitting patients with monthly pulses of 750 mg/m 2 for 1 year in a pilot randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial that showed a positive trend ( p= 0.06) in 6 treated versus 8 placebo patients. 52 D'Andrea et al treated seven relapsing-remitting patients with every 6-month pulses after induction 53 and Millefiorini et al treated 15 remitting-progressive patients with every 2 month boosters for 2 years after IV induction 54 and both reported positive effects in open-label trials. La Mantia et al reported in 30 progressive patients a better response in relapsing-progressive patients and in those receiving induction plus boosters (600 mg/m 2 ) every 2 months for 12 months.…”