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Cyclophosphamide in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

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Abstract

7 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) were subjected to an intensive course of intravenous (I.V.) cyclophosphamide (CY) therapy. All patients received induction therapy with 11 daily doses of 300 mg/m2 and then a single dose every six months for three years. After one year of follow-up all patients showed a decrease in relapse rate (0.57.57); in the two subsequent years of follow-up 2 patients showed a mild worsening while the others were clinically stable.

As suggested by others, our results indicate that I.V. CY therapy may influence the clinical course of relapsing-remitting MS.

Sommario

Sette pazienti affetti da Sclerosi Multipla di tipo remittente sono stati sottoposti a terapia immunosoppressiva con ciclofosfamide. Il trattamento consisteva di un ciclo di induzione con dosi di 300 mg/m2 di ciclofosfamide e.v. somminsstrate giornalmente per 11 giorni e di successive singole dosi di mantenimento di 300 mg/m2 somministrate ogni 6 mesi per un periodo di 3 anni.

Non sono stati osservati gravi effetti collaterali durante lo studio.

Dopo il primo anno di trattamento tutti i pazienti hanno mostrato miglioramento nella frequenza di ricaduta; nei due anni successivi 4 pazienti sono rimasti stabili mentre gli altri hanno mostrato un nuovo peggioramento. Come indicato da altri Autori, i risultati dello studio indicano che la terapia immunosoppressiva con ciclofosfamide ad alte dosi non presenta gravi effetti collaterali e può modificare il decorso della Sclerosi Multipla di tipo remittente.

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D'Andrea, F., D'Aurizio, C., Marini, C. et al. Cyclophosphamide in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Ital J Neuro Sci 11, 271–274 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02333857

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