A Pilot Study of Mitoxantrone for the Treatment of Recurrent Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic's Disease)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2004-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe demyelinating disease that selectively involves the
optic nerves and the spinal cord but usually spares the brain. NMO is considered to have a B
cell induced pathogenesis. Mitoxantrone (MITO, Novantrone®), a synthetic anthracenedione
approved for worsening relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and secondary progressive
MS, has been shown to primarily suppress the humoral response. We conducted a prospective
2-year study to evaluate the benefit of MITO in five relapsing NMO patients.