Effect of intensive immunosuppression on the course of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.

39 patients with chronic-progressive multiple sclerosis were treated with a short course of intensive immunosuppression in high doses of cyclophosphamide and prednisone. The follow-up period varied between 1 and 5 years with a mean of 21/2 years. Progression of the disease ceased in 27 patients for varying periods, with a mean of two years. In 13 patients the progression ceased during the whole follow-up period. The treatment gave the most favourable results in patients who were DRw2 positive in histocompatibility testing, whose disease started at an early age (around 28 years), whose disease duration before treatment was short (6 years), whose progression was fast and whose disability before treatment was low. If CSF levels of IgG3 months after the treatment remain low, this is a sign of good prognosis.