Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T16:53:30.969Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

37 - Use of immunosuppressants to treat multiple sclerosis

from Section III - Clinical trials of multiple sclerosis therapies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Jeffrey A. Cohen
Affiliation:
Cleveland Clinic
Richard A. Rudick
Affiliation:
Cleveland Clinic
Get access

Summary

Cyclophosphamide is employed in autoimmune neuropathies, and vasculidities such as Wegener's granulomatosis and polyarteritis nodosa. Mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept) is a potent immunosuppressant and has been used increasingly in post-transplant patients because it is considered less toxic than azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. Methotrexate is a general immunosuppressant that acts primarily by inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase. Azathioprine (Imuran) is a purine analog that is metabolized to 6-mercaptopurine and thioinosine acid, which compete with DNA nucleotides, causing immunosuppression. This chapter lists randomized trials of immunosuppressives in multiple sclerosis (MS). In the right patient, cyclophosphamide has been demonstrated effective, while work with methotrexate and mycophenolate mofetil has been less conclusive. Azathioprine also is likely to have a favorable effect on MS, and is relatively safe. Recent novel uses of immunosuppressives in active patients, or new disease populations have broadened the possible uses of these drugs.
Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×