Monthly Methylprednisolone Reduces Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis
Author Information
Author(s): Then Bergh Florian, Kümpfel Tania, Schumann Erina, Held Ulrike, Schwan Michaela, Blazevic Mirjana, Wismüller Axel, Holsboer Florian, Yassouridis Alexander, Uhr Manfred, Weber Frank, Daumer Martin, Trenkwalder Claudia, Auer Dorothee P
Primary Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Germany
Hypothesis
Does monthly intravenous methylprednisolone reduce enhancing lesions and T2 lesion volume in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?
Conclusion
Monthly intravenous methylprednisolone reduces inflammatory activity and T2 lesion volume in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Supporting Evidence
- The number of Gd+ lesions was reduced in eight of the nine patients by a median of 43.8%.
- T2 lesion volume decreased by 21% during treatment.
- Monthly plasma prolactin showed a parallel decline with significant correlation to the number of Gd+ lesions.
Takeaway
Giving patients a special medicine called methylprednisolone every month helps make their brain scans look better by reducing bad spots caused by their illness.
Methodology
Nine patients with relapsing-remitting MS received monthly MRI scans and a single infusion of 500 mg methylprednisolone after the sixth month, with various measures taken to assess outcomes.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to the small number of patients and specific inclusion criteria.
Limitations
The small sample size and lack of long-term data limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Nine patients with relapsing-remitting MS, mean age 32.7 years, 8 females and 1 male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.013
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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