title: Efficacy and safety of repeated intrathecal triamcinolone acetonide application in progressive multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Available immunomodulatory and conventional steroid treatment options for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) only provide limited symptomatic benefit. We performed an open trial on the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of repeated intrathecal application of the sustained release steroid triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in 36 progressive MS patients. Six TCA administrations, performed every third day, reduced the EDSS score (initial: 5.6+/-0.93 [mean+/-S.D.]; end: 4.9+/-1.0; p<0.001) and increased the walking distance (WD) (initial: 294+/-314 m; end: 604+/-540 m; p<0.001). Twenty MS patients continued intrathecal TCA treatment with one TCA injection performed with a variable frequency ranging from 6 to 12 weeks. Both EDSS and walking distance remained stable in these patients until the end of the follow-up investigation period. No serious side effects occurred. We conclude that repeated intrathecal TCA injection provides substantial benefit for progressive MS patients with predominantly spinal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Gudrunstrasse 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schimrigk
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islamova
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellwig
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pöhlau
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Przuntek
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide