Effects of immunosuppressive agents and particularly of cyclophosphamide on lymphocytes subsets in treated multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Immune treatments have been used in multiple sclerosis (MS) since 20 years, but it is still difficult to estimate their clinical efficacy as well as their precise immunological effects. The development of the monoclonal antibodies techniques makes it possible to appreciate certain immune effects of these treatments in MS patients and to correlate them with clinical results. It appears that Cyclophosphamide is able to correct the CD4/CD8 ratio imbalance observed in most MS patients and that this correction is generally associated with a beneficial effect on the disease. Other immunosuppressive agents appear less effective both on the CD4/CD8 ratio and on the progression of MS.