title: A double-blind controlled trial of high dose methylprednisolone in patients with multiple sclerosis: 1. Clinical effects.
abstract: A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of high-dose, pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone was carried out in 50 individuals with multiple sclerosis; 22 patients were in acute relapse and 28 had chronic progressive disease. After a baseline assessment using the Kurtzke functional and expanded disability status scales each patient was randomly allocated to intravenous treatment with methylprednisolone (500 mg) or a saline placebo administered as a single daily dose for 5 days. Clinical assessments were repeated at 1 and 4 weeks after starting treatment. The results from all 50 patients showed a highly significant effect in favour of methylprednisolone treatment (p less than 0.001). In patients with relapse, there was a significant decrease in clinical disability scores at 1 and 4 weeks in the methylprednisolone treated group compared with controls (p less than 0.05 for each comparison). In the chronic progressive group, disability scores at 4 weeks only were significantly lower after treatment with methylprednisolone (p less than 0.01), mainly attributable to improvement in pyramidal function.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Milligan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Compston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone