Immunological effects of methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive multiple sclerosis

• Methylprednisolone has an effect on T cells, B cells, dendritic cells and monocytes.
• Short term treatment effect on clinical parameters
• No differences between MS subtypes were found.
• No gender differences were found.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of monthly oral methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive MS.Methods30 progressive MS patients were treated with oral methylprednisolone every month. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.ResultsOut of 102 leukocyte phenotypes investigated, 25 changed at nominal significance from baseline to week 12 (p < 0.05). After correction for multiple comparisons, we found 5 subpopulations that changed compared to baseline. No pattern were suggesting modulation of Th17 or TFH cells.ConclusionMethylprednisolone pulse treatment has some effects on circulating immune cells but does not modulate markers of Th17 and TFH cell activity in progressive MS.