Treatment of multiple sclerosis with mitoxantrone.
Ten multiple sclerosis patients, all with a rapid deteriorating disease profile, were treated with 12 mg/m2 of the cytostatic agent mitoxantrone, administered every 3 months. This dosage is only 25% of what a patient with a solid tumour would normally receive during the same time period. In all treated patients the deterioration was stopped following the initial dosage; in four out of ten patients there was even an immediate improvement of the neurological status. Eight out of nine patients showed an improvement after 1 year as compared with their enrollment status; the other one remained stabile. In correlation with the clinical improvement, the mean P100 latencies of visual evoked potentials showed a reduction after 1 year. However, the changes identified through magnetic resonance imaging were even clearer than those seen clinically. At admission, this group of patients presented with a total of 169 gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing lesions. Only 10 lesions were enhancing in nine patients 12 months after the initiation of treatment. It appears that mitoxantrone accelerates the disappearance of Gd-enhancing lesions and prevents the development of new ones. Minimal side effects such as mild nausea and a slight faintness were evident in six patients and then for only 1-2 days.
Mauch
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Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Dietenbronn/Schwend, Federal Republic of Germany.
Kornhuber
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HH
Krapf
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Fetzer
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Laufen
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H
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008942:Mitoxantrone