Sodium fusidate (fusidin) ameliorates the course of monophasic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat

We have evaluated the effect of the immunosuppressant sodium fusidate (fusi din) on the course of acute monophasic experimental encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mole Lewis rots. Prophylactic treatment with Fusidin, 80 or 120 mg/kg b d wt, markedly ameliorated the course of the disease in rots immunized with myelin basic proteins in complete Freund's adjuvant, entailing delayed ons et of symptoms, lower clinical scores and more rapid recovery than PBS-trea ted control rots. The Fusidin-treated, immunized rots exhibited milder mono nuclear cell infiltration of brains and spinel cords then control animals. These data provide further evidence for the anti-inflammatory effect of fus idin and suggest that this drug may be valuable for the treatment of human multiple sclerosis.