The Effect of Methylprednisolone on Disease Progression in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: six year-follow up results.

Abstract

In this study including 16 relapsing remitting (RR) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, we applied 1000 mg pulse methylprednisolone (MP) to 11 MS patients and placebo to 6 MS patients. The patients were studied in 3 groups including pretreatment (two years), treatment (two years) and posttreatment follow up (two years). Statistical analysis comprised the attack frequency and the disability scores of patients in each group. The patients having MP monthly treatment showed a statistically significant decline both in attack frequency (p<0.001) and disability scores (p<0.01) when compared pretreatment and treatment periods. There was no statistical difference considering attackfrequency and disability values between treatment and posttreatment follow up period in MP group. Patients taking placebo treatment did not show any statistical difference in both parameters (p> 0.05) comparing the pretreatment and treatment periods. MP and placebo patients were also compared in treatment period and we found a statistically significant difference between two groups including the attack frequency and disability values (p<0.05,p<0.05). This last data supported our results. The patients using MP monthly treatment had a statistically significant difference in both attack rate and disability scores at the end of the two year- treatment period. We did not observe a statistical significance including attack frequency and disability scores during two years follow-up period and we thought that this might be an effect of MP monthly treatment to the disease progression in RR MS.