Multiple Sclerosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Multiple Sclerosis, including details on diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prognosis.

Cladribine in aggressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Martinez-Rodriguez JE, Cadavid D, Wolansky LJ, Pliner L, Cook SD

Department of Neurology and Neurosciences, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07107-3001, USA.

Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine) is an immunosuppressant drug previously evaluated in multiple sclerosis (MS) with variable results. We report six patients with aggressive relapsing MS who despite a poor response to other therapies had a favourable clinical evolution after cladribine. Four women and two men with a rapid increase in the number and severity of relapses leading to increasing disability [mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6.42, standard deviation +/- 0.58, mean relapse rate per year in the 2 years prior to study entry 2.67 +/- 0.75] were retrospectively evaluated. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in five patients showed active disease with gadolinium-enhancing lesions. Cladribine was given at 0.07 mg/kg/day for five consecutive days once monthly with a total of 2- to 4-monthly courses. After 6 months, mean EDSS decreased to 3.75 +/- 1.64 and MRIs showed a decrease or suppression in the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions. After 1 year from first dose, cladribine dosage was repeated in four patients because of recurrence of relapses with subsequent similar positive clinical results. In the follow-up period (49.33 +/- 39.66 months), the mean relapse rate decreased to 0.71 +/- 0.55 and no unexpected or serious adverse events were observed.

Published 1 June 2007 in Eur J Neurol, 14(6): 686-9.
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