Long term safety of IVIg therapy in multiple sclerosis: 10 years experience.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The majority of MS patients have a relapsing-remitting course with progressive neurological disability that accumulates over the years. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) has demonstrated benefit in the treatment of some patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

Understanding autoimmune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis using gene expression microarrays: treatment effect and cytokine-related pathways.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease in which activated autoreactive T-cells invade the blood brain barrier and initiate an inflammatory response that leads to myelin destruction and axonal loss. The etiology of MS, as well as the mechanisms associated with its unexpected onset, the unpredictable clinical course spanning decades, and the different rates of progression leading to disability over time, remains an enigma. We have applied gene expression microarrays technology in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to better understand MS pathogenesis and better target treatment approaches.

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment following the first demyelinating event suggestive of multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has been reported to reduce disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. We assessed the effect of IVIg treatment in patients after the first neurological event suggestive of demyelinative disease and evaluated the occurrence of a second attack and dissemination in time demonstrated by brain magnetic resonance imaging within the first year from onset.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in 91 eligible patients enrolled within the first 6 weeks of neurological symptoms.

T cell vaccination in multiple sclerosis relapsing-remitting nonresponders patients.

Myelin autoreactive T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and lead to propagation of the disease. We evaluated the efficacy of T cell vaccination (TCV) therapy for patients with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS who failed to respond to immunomodulatory treatments. Twenty nonresponders relapsing-remitting MS patients were immunized with autologous attenuated T cell lines after activation with synthetic myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) encephalitogenic peptides.

Effect of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment on pregnancy and postpartum-related relapses in multiple sclerosis.

Acute exacerbations may complicate the course of pregnancy and the postpartum period in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). To evaluate relapse rate and the effect of immunomodulatory treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) during pregnancy and the postpartum period we retrospectively analysed the data of 108 pregnant RRMS patients. Group I patients were not treated, Group II patients were treated with IVIg 0.