What is Intermittent IV-MP? Treatment for Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients?

To date, the use of intravenous methylprednisolone has been the standard procedure for treating RR-MS. If it can alleviate the symptoms during episodes seen in multiple sclerosis patients, then it's only logical to suggest that intermittent doses of intravenous methylprednisolone would decrease the severity of symptoms AND prevent future episodes in remitting relapsing MS. However, very little has been done so far to prove this theory about intermittent treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone, irrespective of an episode.

A recent study has tested it and proved it to be very effective in treating RR-MS. Further, it has demonstrated that intermittent methylprednisolone is the strategy to be relied upon to PREVENT future episodes. Given the remarkable changes following the strategy tested, it is safe to say that patients whose disease seems to follow the clinical course of RR-MS can now look forward to having fewer and milder episodes in future. In addition to decreasing the number of lesions (by 14% to 100 %), there is also a marked decrease in prolactin levels. Decreased prolactin levels prevent auto-immunity that is characteristic of the episodes in RR-MS patients.

Background

Four different types of Multiple Sclerosis have been described, based on the clinical progression of the disease. One of them is Relapsing-remitting.

The study in question focused on relapsing-remitting or RR-MS. It happens to be the most common kind, seen in 85% of the cases. It is characterized by episodes of relapses. With each relapse, the patient stands to be disabled temporarily and in some severe cases, permanently. At the histological level, RR-MS patients show lesions in the brain, a high T2 volume load and finally high levels of prolactin. High levels of the hormone in plasma cause surges in the levels of auto-immunity.