USE OF ORAL ENZYMES IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - PHENOTYPING OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES FROM MS PATIENTS UNDER LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH ORALLY-ADMINISTERED HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES

Oral hydrolytic enzymes in combination with rutosid have been applied in MS patients for more than 20 years. We investigated whether immunol ogical alterations in MS patients are influenced by enzyme treatment. We determined the phenotypes of specific lymphocytic antigens in 12 pa tients with relapsing-remitting MS, who were known to be under long-te rm treatment with oral hydrolytic enzymes (Phlogenzym(R)). Matched unt reated (i.e., only treated for sympioms) MS patients (n=18) and health y volunteers (n=10) served as controls. For phenotyping, the following lymphocytic antigens were measured: CD4, CD8, CD3, CD2, CD19, CD56, C D14, CD45, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD25, CD54 and HLA-DR. Tests were carried o ut with a panel of different fluorescence-conjugated murine monoclonal antibodies and subsequent two color flow-cytometry. Data is expressed as percentage gated cells. Symptomatically treated patients had incre ased CD4, CD19, CD2 and CD45RO, CD54 and CD56. These changes were infl uenced by hydrolytic enzymes in the following manner: CD8 was markedly decreased; CD4, CD2, CD25, CD-45-RO, CD-45RA, CD56 slightly decreased . Furthermore, a statistically significant decrease was found for CD45 and CD54. From these results the conclusion can be drawn that positiv e clinical findings in MS patients under oral hydrolytic enzymes are c ausatively linked to a decrease in inflammatory activity.