title: Immunological effects of methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of monthly oral methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 progressive MS patients were treated with oral methylprednisolone every month. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 102 leukocyte phenotypes investigated, 25 changed at nominal significance from baseline to week 12 (p<0.05). After correction for multiple comparisons, we found 5 subpopulations that changed compared to baseline. No pattern were suggesting modulation of Th17 or TFH cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methylprednisolone pulse treatment has some effects on circulating immune cells but does not modulate markers of Th17 and TFH cell activity in progressive MS.
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: rikke.ratzer@rh.regionh.dk.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ratzer
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romme Christensen
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romme Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Börnsen
authors.affiliation: Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sellebjerg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: CCR2; CD27; CD38; CD70; CD80; Methylprednisolone; Progressive multiple sclerosis