A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY ON AZATHIOPRINE EFFICACY IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS -FINAL REPORT

Forty patients, affected by multiple sclerosis with remitting-relapsin g or progressive course, were included in a double blind study of trea tment with azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) lasting 3 years. The mean change s on the Expanded Disability Status Scale and in the survival analysis show a trend in favour of azathioprine both in slowing disease progre ssion and reducing relapse frequency. These findings, repeatedly obser ved in similar trials, indicate that azathioprine should be used in th e treatment of multiple sclerosis.