http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=11511721&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001 Sep;71(3):404-407

Patti F, Cataldi ML, Nicoletti F, Reggio E, Nicoletti A, Reggio A.

Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.

The effects of combined treatment with cyclophosphamide (CTX) and interferon-beta (IFN-beta) are described in selected patients with "rapidly transitional" multiple sclerosis.

This form of multiple sclerosis is extremely active with very frequent and severe attacks which produce a dramatic increase on the expanded disability status scale (EDSS).

Ten patients with rapidly transitional multiple sclerosis were previously treated with interferon-beta, but none benefited by this treatment.

Monthly treatment with intravenous CTX, from 500 mg/m(2) to 1500 mg/m(2) to obtain a chronic lymphocytopenia (600/mm(3) to 900/mm(3)) produced a marked and significant reduction in the number of relapses (p<0.0001), disability previously accumulated (p<0.0001), and a reduction of T2 MRI burden of lesion.

This particular group of patients benefited by combining cyclophosphamide and IFN-beta.

The possibility is considered of carrying out further studies to test the efficacy of the association between the two drugs for patients who are not responsive to IFN-beta or other active disease modifying therapies.

PMID: 11511721 [PubMed - in process]