Multiple Scerosis

INTRODUCTION: Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks T-cell transmigration through the blood-brain barrier into CNS. OBJECTIVE: AFFIRM showed monotherapy with Natalizumab for 2 year reduced the annualized relapse rate ARR by 68% and the disability progression rate by 42%. This is our first experince in use of Natalizumab in Benghazi-Libya. So we want to evalute its efficacy. METHODS: Four patients of relapsing remitting multiple scerosis on Natalizumab (JC virus negative and MRI prior to use drug done) followed in our clinical practice regarding frequency of relapse, EDSS and new T2-hyperintense lesion on MRI for 24 months for 3 patients and 1 ptient for 12 months...

Fingolimod is a derivative of the naturally occurring immunosuppressive substance myriocin, with structural similarity to sphingosine, a ubiquitous sphingolipid. It acts as an immunomodulator interfering with the egress of T and B lymphocytes from secondary lymph organs, which results in lymphopenia. A phase II study in patients with multiple scerosis showed a significant reduction in annual relapse rate and lesions in magnetic resonance imaging with an acceptable rate of side effects. An advantage of fingolimod compared to interferon beta, glatirameracetate and natalizumab is its oral availability...

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A non-penetrating reagent 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-ditritiostilbene disulfonic acid ([3H]DIDS) has been used to label isolated normal and diseased myelin. The basic protein and the hydrophobic protein, N-2, were isolated from each myelin. When normal myelin was labeled the specific activity of the basic protein was about 25% of that of the hydrophobic protein (N-2). The specific activities of these two proteins isolated from chronic multiple sclerosis myelin were similar to those of the normal myelin. In contrast, the specific acitivity of the basic protein isolated from acute multiple sclerosis myelin was about 400% higher than that of the basic protein isolated from either normal or chronic multiple sclerosis myelins...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.