new LDN study
Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:10 pm
Hello all,
I am a 4th year medical student who was diagnosed with MS about 5 years ago. I just came across this article which is about to be published in a high impact GI journal. In the interest of getting some legitimate MS/LDN trials going, it might not be a bad idea to get your hands on the article and give it to your neurologist. Does any of you see an MS specialist at an academic center?
Jill P. Smith M.D., Heather Stock M.D., Sandra Bingaman R.N., David Mauger Ph.D., Moshe Rogosnitzky, Ian S. Zagon Ph.D.
Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy Improves Active Crohn's Disease
The American Journal of Gastroenterology (OnlineEarly Articles).
doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01045.x
OBJECTIVES: Endogenous opioids and opioid antagonists have been shown to play a role in healing and repair of tissues. In an open-labeled pilot prospective trial, the safety and efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), an opioid antagonist, were tested in patients with active Crohn's disease.
METHODS: Eligible subjects with histologically and endoscopically confirmed active Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) score of 220–450 were enrolled in a study using 4.5 mg naltrexone/day. Infliximab was not allowed for a minimum of 8 wk prior to study initiation. Other therapy for Crohn's disease that was at a stable dose for 4 wk prior to enrollment was continued at the same doses. Patients completed the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) and the short-form (SF-36) quality of life surveys and CDAI scores were assessed pretreatment, every 4 wk on therapy and 4 wk after completion of the study drug. Drug was administered by mouth each evening for a 12-wk period.
RESULTS: Seventeen patients with a mean CDAI score of 356 ± 27 were enrolled. CDAI scores decreased significantly (P = 0.01) with LDN, and remained lower than baseline 4 wk after completing therapy. Eighty-nine percent of patients exhibited a response to therapy and 67% achieved a remission (P < 0.001). Improvement was recorded in both quality of life surveys with LDN compared with baseline. No laboratory abnormalities were noted. The most common side effect was sleep disturbances, occurring in seven patients.
CONCLUSIONS: LDN therapy appears effective and safe in subjects with active Crohn's disease. Further studies are needed to explore the use of this compound.
I am a 4th year medical student who was diagnosed with MS about 5 years ago. I just came across this article which is about to be published in a high impact GI journal. In the interest of getting some legitimate MS/LDN trials going, it might not be a bad idea to get your hands on the article and give it to your neurologist. Does any of you see an MS specialist at an academic center?
Jill P. Smith M.D., Heather Stock M.D., Sandra Bingaman R.N., David Mauger Ph.D., Moshe Rogosnitzky, Ian S. Zagon Ph.D.
Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy Improves Active Crohn's Disease
The American Journal of Gastroenterology (OnlineEarly Articles).
doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01045.x
OBJECTIVES: Endogenous opioids and opioid antagonists have been shown to play a role in healing and repair of tissues. In an open-labeled pilot prospective trial, the safety and efficacy of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), an opioid antagonist, were tested in patients with active Crohn's disease.
METHODS: Eligible subjects with histologically and endoscopically confirmed active Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) score of 220–450 were enrolled in a study using 4.5 mg naltrexone/day. Infliximab was not allowed for a minimum of 8 wk prior to study initiation. Other therapy for Crohn's disease that was at a stable dose for 4 wk prior to enrollment was continued at the same doses. Patients completed the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) and the short-form (SF-36) quality of life surveys and CDAI scores were assessed pretreatment, every 4 wk on therapy and 4 wk after completion of the study drug. Drug was administered by mouth each evening for a 12-wk period.
RESULTS: Seventeen patients with a mean CDAI score of 356 ± 27 were enrolled. CDAI scores decreased significantly (P = 0.01) with LDN, and remained lower than baseline 4 wk after completing therapy. Eighty-nine percent of patients exhibited a response to therapy and 67% achieved a remission (P < 0.001). Improvement was recorded in both quality of life surveys with LDN compared with baseline. No laboratory abnormalities were noted. The most common side effect was sleep disturbances, occurring in seven patients.
CONCLUSIONS: LDN therapy appears effective and safe in subjects with active Crohn's disease. Further studies are needed to explore the use of this compound.