The effect of cladribine on some parameters of blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS)
Stelmasiak, Z.; Bartosik-Psujek, H.; Belniak-Legieć, E.; Mitosek-Szewczyk, K.
Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Sklodowska. Sectio D Medicina 55: 221-225
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0066-2240 PMID: 11482077 Document Number: 7782
The data analysis from this study has shown that cladribine lowers the number of leucocytes and especially of the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood. The lymphocytopenia was marked and existed still 6 months after treatment but in most patients the leucocyte count was above 3 G/1. In our study only in one patient the total count of leucocytes fell below 3 Gil and lymphocyte belove The reduction of lymphocyte counts depends on dosing and schedule of treatment. In the Scripps study (2) patients received higher dosing of cladribine and the reduction of lymphocyte counts was more marked than that observed in our study. However, more often observed adverse events (trombocytopenia, infections). In some of our patients granulocyte counts increased markedly. This can be caused by the reaction of the leucocyte system to infections present during treatment (mainly infections of the urine tracts, where were succesfully treated with standard antibiotic therapy). It indicates that cladribine is toxic against lymphocytes but is toxic neither to granulocytes nor to granulocyte progenitors. The decrease of cytosis and protein in CSF has shown that the treatment leads to a decrease in inflammatory reaction in CSF. An analysis of the neurologic performance and disability rating scale showed stabilisation. The treatment was well tolerated. Cladribine may be useful in the therapy of RR-MS patients
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