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Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 12, No. 1, 66-71 (2006)
DOI: 10.1191/135248506ms1246oa
© 2006 SAGE Publications

No effect of intravenous immunoglobulins on cytokine-producing lymphocytes in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

H F Petereit

Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924 Köln, Germany, hela.petereit{at}medizin.uni-koeln.de

D Reske

Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924 Köln, Germany

R Pukrop

Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924 Köln, Germany

M Maas-Enriquez

Bayer Vital GmbH, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany

G Japp

Department for Neurology and Rehabilitation, Alt Falkenstein 2, 61426 Königstein, Germany

P JH Jongen

Multiple Sclerosis Center Nijmegen, Heiweg 97, 6533 Nijmegen, The Netherlands

H W Kölmel

Department of Neurology, Klinikum Erfurt GmbH, POB 595, 99012 Erfurt, Germany

S Merkelbach

Department of Neurology, University of Homburg/Saar, Kirrbergstraße, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany

H P Hartung

Department of Neurology, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

W D Heiss

Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann-Str. 9, 50924 Köln, Germany

O R Hommes

Multiple Sclerosis Center Nijmegen, Heiweg 97, 6533 Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) have been effective in reducing multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity and improving disability scores. However, the mechanism by which this beneficial effect is achieved remains unclear. An effect of IVIG on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines- which are thought to play a role in the disease process- has been postulated in a number of animal and ex vivo studies. Hence, we performed a study on 34 patients with secondary progressive (SP) MS being treated with monthly IVIG or placebo for two years according to the protocol of the ESIMS study. Clinical outcome measures and cytokine production (interferon gamma, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-4 and -10) were recorded in all patients and compared with respect to the treatment group. Against our expectations, IVIG did not reduce the relapse rate or the progression of disability or cytokine production. Our data argue against an enduring immunomodulating effect of IVIG, at least in SPMS.

Key Words: interferon gamma • interleukin-4 • interleukin-10 • intravenous immunoglobulin • secondary progressive multiple sclerosis • T helper cell subtypes • tumour necrosis factor alpha


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