Re: NMSS position on LDN - April 2005 update

[Guest guest]

Bowling, MD/PhD has written the NMSS updated position on LDN as

of April 2005. They are sounding more rational now, citing the LDN/MS

hypothesis by Dr Agrawal, MD/PhD, and repeating his position that

trials are needed. Congratulations to Dr Agrawal, perhaps they are

beginning to listen.

Dr Agrawal was interviewed by Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple

Sclerosis regarding his hypothesis 1/27/05.

http://www.bostoncure.org:8080/article.pl?sid=05/01/27/1748256

SammyJo

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http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Clinup-Naltrexone.asp

Low Dose Naltrexone Update

April 2005—We have received a number of inquiries about the use

of

low dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. To

date, there are no published data from controlled clinical trials of

LDN in MS. Further study is needed to determine the safety and

efficacy of LDN as a treatment for people with MS.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that has been approved by the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of addictions to

opioids and alcohol. At significantly lower doses, it has been

prescribed as a treatment for a variety of diseases, including

various types of cancers, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's

disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), emphysema, as well as

MS and other autoimmune diseases. Although there is a trial ongoing

in Crohn's disease, no data have yet been published in Crohn's or any

of these other diseases.

In a recent article by Y.P. Agrawal, MD, PhD, (Med Hypotheses. 2005;64

(4):721-4), Dr. Agrawal proposed that LDN reduces disease activity in

MS by reducing the destruction of oligodendrocytes, the cells that

manufacture myelin. He urged that clinical trials be conducted as

soon as possible to determine if the proposed mechanism of action is

a safe and effective treatment for MS.

We look forward to seeing published results from the clinical trial

of LDN in Crohn's disease and hope that research studies will be

conducted in EAE (the animal model of MS) and in MS. As stated on the

National MS Society Web site, the Society is open to considering any

high quality and relevant research protocol. Any agent that has the

potential to safely and effectively treat MS is of interest to the

Society. We encourage those researchers and clinicians who believe

there are significant benefits to LDN for people with MS to propose

and undertake the studies that are required by the dictates of good

scientific investigation and also required by regulatory authorities.

Research and Clinical Programs Department

in collaboration with

Bowling, MD, PhD

Rocky Mountain MS Center