Mitoxantrone reduced disability in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Multiple sclerosis is a leading cause of disability in young adults. Mitoxantrone has recently been shown to be effective in ameliorating multiple sclerosis activity and reducing the decreasing relapse rate in patients with multiple sclerosis in Iran. This was a clinical trial on patients who received intravenous mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m[2] every 3 months. The study was performed at Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis Clinics, affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The clinical trial was conducted from October 2003 through April 2005. One hundred and forty-seven patients with worsening relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis received mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m[2] every 3 months. Clinical assessment was made every 3 months for one year. Of the 147 patients, 129 [93 females and 36 males] could successfully complete the course of our study. A significant therapeutic effect [P<0.0001] was detected for the attack rate which reduced to 0.09 [SD= 0.29] during treatment. Mitoxantrone was generally well tolerated and reduced progression of disability and clinical exacerbation in our patients. Physicians must be careful about the complications of mitoxantrone especially cardiotoxicity