title: [The effect of combined mitoxantrone and methylprednisolone therapy in primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. An applied study in 65 patients].
abstract: Mitoxantrone (mitox) has been shown to be effective for secondary progressive (SP) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this open trial was to evaluate the effects of combined mitox and methylprednisolone (MP) therapy on patients with primary progressive (PP)-MS or with SP-MS. We present here the results of an interim analysis done after the study had lasted 5 years. Sixty-five patients (20 with PP-MS and 45 with SP-MS) have been included so far. The treatment involved ten cycles of combined mitox and MP. The intervals between the individual cycles were systematically prolonged from 3 months initially to 12 months, so the complete treatment took a total of 57 months. Conclusion This interim analysis indicates that mitox combined with MP beneficially reduces the progression of disability in patients with PP-MS and SP-MS. Therefore, this therapy regimen can also be considered a feasible option for PP-MS.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. vzingler@nro.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Zingler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strupp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hohlfeld
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D008775:Methylprednisolone