Treatment of the chronic progressive form of multiple sclerosis with a combination of cyclophosphamide and prednisone

Abstract

32 patients with the chronic progressive form of the multiple sclerosis were treated with high doses of cyclophosphamide and prednisone during 20 days, to produce immunosuppression. The effect of treatment was measured by scoring three different Kurtzke scales just before treatment (1), just after treatment (II), and 3 months after treatment (III). The results indicate that in the treatment period I to II most patients improve, some dramatically. The improvement continues in 15 of 25 patients scored between 6 and 33 months after treatment. Better results were found in patients with shorter duration of their disease. More improvement is found as the IgG percentage of the spinal fluid at I is higher. The improvement is less when the initial condition (I) is more serious.