WESTPORT, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Monthly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) administration to patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) improves "...the course of clinical disability and reduce[s] the frequency of relapses," according to new findings published in today's Lancet. Dr. Franz Fazekas of the Karl-Franzens University in Austria and a multicenter team explain that immune globulin therapy for MS had only been evaluated in uncontrolled trials and animal experiments. The Austrian Immunoglobulin in Multiple Sclerosis Study Group therefore setout to test its efficacy in a randomized, controlled 2-year trial in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

"At the end of 2 years, the magnitude of the absolute change in [Kurtzke's expanded disability status scale] EDSS score and, thus, in clinical disability was small in both groups," Dr. Fasekas reports. But "...the between group difference in absolute change in EDSS score was highly significant..." since the score decreased in treated patients but increased in those who received placebo. Treatment with IVIg resulted in significantly fewer relapses, with a "...59% lower annual relapse rate in the IVIg group than in the placebo group." In addition, "24% more patients in the IVIg group than in the placebo group did better by at least 1.0 EDSS grade."

"Monthly administration of IVIg seems to be at least as effective as treatment with interferon-[beta] or copolymer I in improving clinical disability and reducing the rate of relapses," according to Dr. Fazekas. Moreover, since no adverse side effects attributable to the drug were observed, IVIg "...may cause less inconvenience to the patient and fewer adverse events [than current therapies]."

Lancet 1997;349:589-593.

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