A pilot test of pioglitazone as an add-on in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist pioglitazone is FDA-approved for treatment of type-2 diabetes due to insulin sensitizing effects. However pioglitazone has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, reduces glial and T-cell activation, and reduces signs in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). We tested the effects of daily treatment with pioglitazone in a small cohort of relapsing remitting MS patients.