Monthly intravenous methylprednisolone in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis - reduction of enhancing lesions, T2 lesion volume and plasma prolactin concentrations.
BACKGROUND
Intravenous methylprednisolone (IV-MP) is an established treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses, accompanied by rapid, though transient reduction of gadolinium enhancing (Gd+) lesions on brain MRI. Intermittent IV-MP, alone or with immunomodulators, has been suggested but insufficiently studied as a strategy to prevent relapses.


METHODS
In an open, single-cross-over study, nine patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) underwent cranial Gd-MRI once monthly for twelve months. From month six on, they received a single i.v.-infusion of 500 mg methylprednisolone (and oral tapering for three days) after the MRI. Primary outcome measure was the mean number of Gd+ lesions during treatment vs. baseline periods; T2 lesion volume and monthly plasma concentrations of cortisol, ACTH and prolactin were secondary outcome measures. Safety was assessed clinically, by routine laboratory and bone mineral density measurements. Soluble immune parameters (sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII, IL1-ra and sVCAM-1) and neuroendocrine tests (ACTH test, combined dexamethasone/CRH test) were additionally analyzed.


RESULTS
Comparing treatment to baseline periods, the number of Gd+ lesions/scan was reduced in eight of the nine patients, by a median of 43.8% (p = 0.013, Wilcoxon). In comparison, a pooled dataset of 83 untreated RR-MS patients from several studies, selected by the same clinical and MRI criteria, showed a non-significant decrease by a median of 14% (p = 0.32). T2 lesion volume decreased by 21% during treatment (p = 0.001). Monthly plasma prolactin showed a parallel decline (p = 0.027), with significant cross-correlation with the number of Gd+ lesions. Other hormones and immune system variables were unchanged, as were ACTH test and dexamethasone-CRH test. Treatment was well tolerated; routine laboratory and bone mineral density were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
Monthly IV-MP reduces inflammatory activity and T2 lesion volume in RR-MS.
Then Bergh
Florian
F
Section of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Germany. ThenBerF@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Kümpfel
Tania
T
Schumann
Erina
E
Held
Ulrike
U
Schwan
Michaela
M
Blazevic
Mirjana
M
Wismüller
Axel
A
Holsboer
Florian
F
Yassouridis
Alexander
A
Uhr
Manfred
M
Weber
Frank
F
Daumer
Martin
M
Trenkwalder
Claudia
C
Auer
Dorothee P
DP
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006728:Hormones; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011388:Prolactin; D005682:Gadolinium; D008775:Methylprednisolone