title: Noninvasive assessment of mitoxantrone cardiotoxicity in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults. Recent reports have suggested that Mitoxantrone might be a candidate for clinical trials in multiple sclerosis patients. The authors studied 20 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis to evaluate cardiac toxicity during a one-year follow-up period. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A, mitoxantrone treated patients (cumulative dose of 96 mg/m2); group B, placebo patients. The clinical course of multiple sclerosis was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the number of relapses during the follow-up. Each patient had an electrocardiogram and a spectral and color flow Doppler echocardiographic examination at enrollment, and 6 and 12 months later, to investigate cardiac toxicity. The mean exacerbation rate was reduced significantly in group A patients. No significant differences in the electrocardiograms or the echocardiographic parameters of systolic and diastolic function were noted between the two groups or in group A during the follow-up. Mitoxantrone treatment seems able to improve the clinical course of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients. It does not show any cardiac toxicity in selected patients at this dosage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cartoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millefiorini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Funaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morino
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tallarico
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008942:Mitoxantrone