Efficacy and tolerance of Methylprednisolone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis relapses: the case study of Morocco
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical response and tolerability of intravenous Methylprednisolone in the management of acute relapses in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). These patients were followed for a period of two years in a real-world setting where access to alternative relapse treatments was limited.
Methods: Over a ten-year period, data were collected from 31 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study focused on the management of relapses in relapsing–remitting and progressive MS using intravenous Methylprednisolone. All patients received Azathioprine as a background disease-modifying therapy and were followed for two years. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores and Annualised Relapse Rates (ARR) were recorded before treatment and during follow-up as descriptive longitudinal clinical indicators to assess the overall clinical course. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data were also collected.
Results: The study included 31 patients treated with Methylprednisolone, including 17 with RRMS and 14 with PMS. During follow-up, a reduction in the ARR was observed in the RRMS group, decreasing from 2.88 to 0.29, and in the PMS group, from 2.64 to 0.29. Similarly, an improvement in the EDSS score was observed in the RRMS group, decreasing from 4.24 to 3.62, whereas relative stability was noted in the PMS group, with EDSS scores changing from 5.46 to 5.43.
Conclusion: This study confirms the established role of intravenous Methylprednisolone in the management of acute relapses of MS. In our real-world cohort, conducted in a resource-limited setting, relapse treatment was associated with a favorable short-term clinical course and good tolerability. However, Methylprednisolone should not be considered a disease-modifying therapy, and the long-term clinical evolution observed cannot be attributed solely to corticosteroid treatment.
Keywords: Methylprednisolone, Multiple Sclerosis, EDSS Score, Morocco, ARR, Retrospective Survey
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.62940/als.v13i2.3427
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