Biomaterial Database

Effectiveness of azathioprine treatment in multiple sclerosis. 1988

L Fratiglioni, and G F Siracusa, and M P Amato, and D Sità, and L Amaducci

Clinica Neurologica Ia, Università degli Studi di Firenze.

As the effectiveness of continuous azathioprine therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still controversial, we have conducted a prospective trial of the drug (2 mg/kg daily for at least 2 years) in patients with clinically definite MS, ie with remitting, remitting-progressive and progressive MS. At the end of an average 3-year follow-up 65% of the 40 patients with remitting-progressive had the same EDSS score as they had to start with. This was observed mainly in patients with longstanding MS and a high baseline EDSS. Of the 22 patients with a remitting course 77% showed no clinical deterioration and the annual relapse rate declined, although not significantly. In only one case did the remitting disease become remitting-progressive. Azathioprine would seem to have some efficacy in delaying the progression of remitting MS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D005260	Female		Females
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001379	Azathioprine	An immunosuppressive agent used in combination with cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), this substance has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck Index, 11th ed)	Azathioprine Sodium,Azathioprine Sodium Salt,Azathioprine Sulfate,Azothioprine,Immuran,Imuran,Imurel,Sodium, Azathioprine