This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

hello,
Have been researching and gathering information about LDN and people's experiences and alternative methods for MS in exploration for my own MS. This site and people has been very helpful. Many may already be connected to this, but, I have also joined the LDN Yahoo website, which has been a great connection. I have posted some interesting informative links and recent news from that site, below:

http://tinyurl.com/grpm9

http://tinyurl.com/39dnyx

Immunomodulation 2
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 15:30 - 17:00
Pilot multicentric study of low dose naltrexone in primary
progressive multiple sclerosis
M. Gironi, F. Martinelli Boneschi, C. Solaro, R. Cavarretta, M.
Zaffaroni, L. Moiola, S. Bucello, M. Radaelli, V. Pilato, M.
Rodegher, M. Cursi, V. Martinelli, R. Nemni, G. Comi, P. Sacerdote,
G. Martino (Milan, Genoa, Gallarate, I)

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Preliminary evidence have documented an interesting symptomatic
effect of low dose naltrexone (LDN) on spasticity, pain and fatigue
whose control remains an unmet need for patients (pts) with Primary
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). Naltrexone is an orally semi
synthetic opiate antagonist licensed, in a 50 mg dose, for the
treatment of heroin addiction. However, when Naltrexone is given at
very lower doses (up to 5 mg), its opiate antagonist activity is
completely abrogated while triggering a prolonged up regulation of
endorphins (BE). The LDN-induced increase of BE is supposed to have
an anti-inflammatory effect.
We have approached a 6-months, pilot, multicentric, open-label,
therapeutic study with LDN aimed at evaluating its safety and
efficacy on spasticity, pain and fatigue occurring in 40 pts with
PPMS Clinical and biochemical evaluations are performed at different
time points during the study. Appropriate scale for testing
spasticity, pain and fatigue (e.g. Ashworth, Fatigue Severity Scale,
Visual Analogue Scale) are used as an integral part of the periodical
neurological examination. BE levels in peripheral blood mononuclear
cells are also measured by radioimmunoassay.
So far, 40 pts with a diagnosis of PPMS, according to McDonald
criteria, (19 male, mean age 53.4, mean age at onset 41.2, mean EDSS
5.5) have been enrolled in the study. Optimization of gabaergic
and/or serotoninergic drugs has been performed in all pts before the
enrolment. Opioid-containing- drug, immunosuppressive or
immunomodulator drugs were considered as a contraindication to study
enrolment.
At present, all PPMS pts have completed the 4° month of therapy.
Transitory haematological abnormalities (increase of liver enzymes,
hypercholesterolemi a), mild agitation and sleep disturbance were the
commonest adverse events. Only two drop-outs occurred (one for
protocol violation and one for severe increase of hypertonia). In
conclusion, LDN has shown, so far, to be a safe treatment in PPMS. We
are now collecting and analysing efficacy results