I just got a very interesting article from a member of the therapeutic MS group that I attend. This may be old news for many of you but it is new info for me. I am not sure of the ethics of posting the article in full so I will summarize and quote it and if you send me an email, I'll send it to you. Apparently a group of researchers at Johns Hopkins are responsible for this research. Pasted below is the article source, abstract and selected information.
Newswise http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/541638/
6/10/2008 8:20 PM
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine Released: Tue 10-Jun-2008, 16:00 ET
“HiCy” Drug Regimen Reverses MS Symptoms in Selected Patients
"A short-term, very-high dose regimen of the immune-suppressing drug cyclophosphamide seems to slow progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) in most of a small group of patients studied and may even restore neurological function lost
to the disease, Johns Hopkins researchers report. The findings in nine people, most of whom had failed all othertreatments, suggest new ways to treat a disease that tends to progress relentlessly."
The drug in question was tested on nine people with severe, progressive MS. Here is what the researchers found. "Before treatment, Kerr says, the study participants were “the worst of the worst” among MS patients. Eight of the nine
patients had failed conventional MS treatments, and several of them were wheelchair-bound. Reporting in the June 9 Archives of Neurology, the Johns Hopkins team said the disease appeared to reverse course for seven of the nine patients over two years following treatments."
Patients "experienced a 40 percent reduction in scores on a standard test that measures disability. They also had an overall 87 percent improvement in scores on a composite test that measures physical and
mental function."
Before you go out and get too excited: "Two years after treatment, MRI images
showed that the disease had reactivated in about half the study participants, suggesting that their renewed ability may not be permanent."
"This research was supported by the General Clinical Research Center of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, a
National Multiple Sclerosis Society grant, philanthropic support from Mr. Alvin Myerbrg, and the Johns Hopkins Project
RESTORE.
For more information, go to:
http://www.hopkinsneuro.org/ms/research_areas.cfm
http://www.hopkinsneuro.org/ms/doc.cfm/expert/Douglas_Kerr
http://www.hopkinsneuro.org/ms/doc.cfm/expert/Adam_Kaplin
http://www.hopkinsneuro.org/restore© 2008 Newswise. All Rights Reserved."
Please check out this info for yourself and let me know what your find.
Thanks,
Nadja
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4 comments:
I have an 'online friend' who is downing to Baltimore to meet with the staff regarding this protocol. I haven't made a thorough investigation of this recently, but I do believe that the number of patients having undergone the treatment approaches 100 (maybe? I'm going off memory). This report may be a follow-up on the very first patients who did the protocol over two years ago.
Personally the procedure sounds very exciting and very frightening at the same time. Blogger Chris at chrishadms.com (previously chrishasms) discussed his experience this spring at Johns Hopkins.
We will certainly be hearing more about HiCY in the future.
Thanks for the info Lisa. I'll have to contact Chris. I am not sure about this procedure for me, at least now, but it sounds promising for those with progressive MS or who are degenerating rapidly.
Another research project to watch. I am not "progessing rapidly." I am doing well for first symptoms appearing almost 40 years ago; and DX 18 years ago. Anything trying to restore what I've lost is good, but HICY is just another try in a very long line of trys. I will cautiously keep it in my radar.(Along with several hundred other research projects around the world.) Eventually A+B+C+D-A/C= something that works without dangerous side effects.
Diane. I am so glad you are doing well. We'll just have to take the front seat to watch and see:)
Nadja
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