A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of extracorporeal photopheresis in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis

Extracorporeal photopheresis is a safe therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphom a and may have efficacy in certain autoimmune disorders. We Performed a ran domized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of monthly photopheresis therapy in 16 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS). Al l patients had Progressed during the preceding year with entry Expended Dis ability Status Scale (EDSS) scores between 3.0 and 7.0. Patients received p hotopheresis or sham therapy for 1 year and were followed for on additional 6 to 12 months. Patients were clinically evaluated by three disability sca les: (1) EDSS; (2) Ambulation index and (3) Scripp's quantitative neurologi c assessment No serious side effects occurred in either group. There were n o differences between the photopheresis and sham therapy groups by the disa bility measures. Additionally, there were no differences in Progression of MRI plaque burden or evoked potential latencies. In this limited study, pho topheresis was found to be safe but did not significantly alter the course of chronic progressive MS.