Pulsed methylprednisolone induces a reversible impairment of memory in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic administration of corticosteroids has been reported to selectively impair explicit memory in systemic diseases without central nervous system involvement. Our aim was to verify that a short course of pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) administered for the treatment of a relapse impairs cognitive functions in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and to determine whether this impairment is reversible.


METHODS
Neuropsychological evaluations were made before the start of treatment, and 7 and 60 days after the end of treatment in 14 RRMS patients. The neuropsychological battery was also administered to 12 controls matched for age, sex and years of education.


RESULTS
RRMS patients performed worse than the controls at their baseline evaluation for a variety of neuropsychological tasks. IVMP administration induced a selective impairment of explicit memory which completely recovered 60 days after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In RRMS patients, IVMP induces a selective and reversible impairment of explicit memory.
Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine in Catanzaro, Italy.
R L
RL
Oliveri
G
G
Sibilia
P
P
Valentino
C
C
Russo
N
N
Romeo
A
A
Quattrone
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone