EFFECT OF COPOLYMER-1 ON SERIAL GADOLINIUM-ENHANCED MRI IN RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

We examined the effect of Copolymer-1 (Cop1) on magnetic resonance (MR ) imaging changes in 10 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple scl erosis (RRMS). Monthly gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MR imaging was perform ed for 9 to 27 months in the pretreatment period followed by 10 to 14 additional months during Cop1 treatment. MR images were evaluated by t wo radiologists (F.S. and R.C.P.) masked to the scan date. We found a 57% decrease in the frequency of new Gd-enhancing lesions and in the m ean area/month of new Gd-enhancing lesions in the Cop1 treatment perio d compared with the pretreatment period (0.92 versus 2.20 lesions per month and 22 mm(2) versus 43 mm(2) area/month; p = 0.1, Wilcoxon signe d rank test). Percentage change in lesion load area on T2-weighted ima ges showed a decrease in the accumulation of lesion area during treatm ent, which was significant for the patient group with a longer pretrea tment period (p = 0.05, Friedman test). These results demonstrate a re duction in the number of new Gd-enhancing lesions and in the lesion lo ad during Cop1 treatment compared with the preceding period without th erapy and are suggestive of an effect of Cop1 on MR abnormalities obse rved in multiple sclerosis.