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Results demonstrate that(1)there were no differences between the modified and the published induction regimens either in terms of initial stabilization or subsequent progression;(2)without boosters,the majority of patients continued to progress;and(3)in patients receiving boosters, there was a statistically significant benefit at 24 months and 30 months (p=0.04).Time to treatment failure after 1 year was also significantly prolonged in the booster versus the nonbooster group(p=0.03).Age was the most important variable that correlated with response to therapy in that amelioration of disease progression occurred primarily in patients 40 years of age or younger.Boosters had a significant benefit on time to treatment failure in patients ages 18 to 40,p=0.003,but not in patients ages 41 to 55,p=0.97.In addition,patients with primary progressive MS had a poorer prognosis at 12 months than patients with secondarily progressive MS(p=0.04).Our findings(1)support a role for immunosuppression in the treatment of MS,(2)Begin to identify variables that may explain differences between studies of immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide in progressive MS,and(3)suggest that intermittent pulse therapy is an important method for the treatment of progressive MS and perhaps for earlier stages of MS as well. |
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