[The effect of combined mitoxantrone and methylprednisolone therapy in primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. An applied study in 65 patients].

Mitoxantrone (mitox) has been shown to be effective for secondary progressive (SP) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this open trial was to evaluate the effects of combined mitox and methylprednisolone (MP) therapy on patients with primary progressive (PP)-MS or with SP-MS. We present here the results of an interim analysis done after the study had lasted 5 years. Sixty-five patients (20 with PP-MS and 45 with SP-MS) have been included so far. The treatment involved ten cycles of combined mitox and MP. The intervals between the individual cycles were systematically prolonged from 3 months initially to 12 months, so the complete treatment took a total of 57 months. Conclusion This interim analysis indicates that mitox combined with MP beneficially reduces the progression of disability in patients with PP-MS and SP-MS. Therefore, this therapy regimen can also be considered a feasible option for PP-MS.