Contributions
Abstract: EP1678
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 27 Neuroprotection and Repair
Introduction: In the EAE model of optic neuritis, erythropoietin was particularly effective when given in combination with methylprednisolone, and proved to exert neuroprotective effects in humans, too. Yet it is unknown if erythropoietin has any effects on MRI activity in MS patients
Methods: We analyzed changes in cerebral lesion load by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 35 patients from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study on erythropoietin in clinically isolated optic neuritis (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00355095). In the trial patients with acute optic neuritis were assigned to receive either 33,000IU recombinant human erythropoietin i.v. daily for three days, or placebo, as an add-on to methylprednisolone. MRIs were recorded at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 16.
Results: During the observation period there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the change in absolute numbers of periventricular, juxtacortical, and infratentorial lesions including gadolinium-enhancing lesions. In ten of thirty-five patients we found MRI disease progression already within the observation period of 16 weeks. In 5 (14%) patients, we found a conversion into multiple sclerosis (MS) based on MRI progression only. These patients all received placebo. Another 5 patients showed MRI progression together with relapses. Three of these patients had received erythropoietin, two placebo.
Conclusions: After isolated optic neuritis erythropoietin treatment did not change MRI progression. However during follow-up early conversion to CDMS seemed to occur more frequently in the placebo-treated group.
Disclosure:
KW.S: no conflict of interest
R.D.: no conflict of interest
K.H.: no conflict of interest
C.H.: no conflict of interest
P.P.: no conflict of interest
K.S.: no conflict of interest
R.P.: no conflict of interest
Abstract: EP1678
Type: ePoster
Abstract Category: Therapy - disease modifying - 27 Neuroprotection and Repair
Introduction: In the EAE model of optic neuritis, erythropoietin was particularly effective when given in combination with methylprednisolone, and proved to exert neuroprotective effects in humans, too. Yet it is unknown if erythropoietin has any effects on MRI activity in MS patients
Methods: We analyzed changes in cerebral lesion load by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 35 patients from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study on erythropoietin in clinically isolated optic neuritis (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00355095). In the trial patients with acute optic neuritis were assigned to receive either 33,000IU recombinant human erythropoietin i.v. daily for three days, or placebo, as an add-on to methylprednisolone. MRIs were recorded at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, and 16.
Results: During the observation period there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to the change in absolute numbers of periventricular, juxtacortical, and infratentorial lesions including gadolinium-enhancing lesions. In ten of thirty-five patients we found MRI disease progression already within the observation period of 16 weeks. In 5 (14%) patients, we found a conversion into multiple sclerosis (MS) based on MRI progression only. These patients all received placebo. Another 5 patients showed MRI progression together with relapses. Three of these patients had received erythropoietin, two placebo.
Conclusions: After isolated optic neuritis erythropoietin treatment did not change MRI progression. However during follow-up early conversion to CDMS seemed to occur more frequently in the placebo-treated group.
Disclosure:
KW.S: no conflict of interest
R.D.: no conflict of interest
K.H.: no conflict of interest
C.H.: no conflict of interest
P.P.: no conflict of interest
K.S.: no conflict of interest
R.P.: no conflict of interest