A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 4 studies. Intensive immunosuppression with CFX (alone or associated with ACTH or prednisone) in patients with progressive MS compared to placebo or no treatment (152 participants) did not prevent the long-term (12, 18, 24 months) clinical disability progression as defined as evolution to a next step of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. However, the mean change in disability (final disability subtracted from the baseline) significantly favoured the treated group at 12 (effect size -0.21, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.17) and 18 months (-0.19, 95% CI -0.24 to -0.14) but favoured the control group at 24 months (0.14, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.21). The efficacy of other schedules could not be verified. Five patients died; sepsis and amenorrhea frequently occurred in treated patients (descriptive analysis).
Primary/Secondary Keywords