Preliminary Evidence-Based Pharmacotherapy of Mitoxantrone for Multiple Sclerosis in an Iranian Population

Abstract

Background: Although mitoxantrone inhibits lipopolysaccharide induction of many immunological factors, but the mechanism of action somewhat remains to be more understood. Objectives: This preliminary study was designed to investigate the evidence-based mitoxantrone therapy results in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study on 71 patients with MS was carried out between 2010 and 2012, in an Iranian population. Demographic and pharmacological variables were recorded in d-Base. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows. Results: The females/males sex ratio within the study population was 3.17: 1. The mean age of females was 32.2 years old (range 20 - 45 years) and the mean age of males was 52.7 years old (range 45 - 64 years). Out of the total population studied, 20% received both methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy and mitoxantrone on at least on one occasion. The mean frequency of dose received by each individual was two, with a range of one to five. Conclusions: To prevent the serious adverse effects of mitoxantrone, such as acute leukemia and secondary hematologic cancers, pharmacotherapy outcome, using disease modifying drugs, should focus on rate and severity of relapses within Iranian pateints with MS.