Research: stopping progression - neuroprotection on its way with erythropoietin

Epub: Sühs KW et al. A randomized, double-blind, phase II study on erythropoietin in optic neuritis Annal Neurol. 28 Feb 2012.

Objectives: Based on findings in animal models of autoimmune optic nerve inflammation, we have assessed the safety and efficacy of erythropoietin in patients presenting with a first episode of optic neuritis.

"erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidney that stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. It has more recently been shown to have neuroprotective effects."

 Methods: MSers with optic neuritis were included in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00355095). They were randomly assigned to groups receiving either 33,000IU recombinant human erythropoietin i.v. daily for three days, or placebo, as an add-on therapy to methylprednisolone. The primary outcome parameter was change in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness after 16 weeks. Secondary outcome parameters included optic nerve atrophy (loss of nerve cells) as assessed by MRI, changes in visual acuity (how good your vision is), visual field (breadth of your visual fields, and visual evoked potentials (VEPs, electrical tests of how well the optic nerve conducts electrical impulses).

Results: 40 MSers were assigned into either treatment group (21/19 erythropoietin/placebo). Safety monitoring revealed no relevant issues. 37 MSers (20/17 erythropoietin/placebo) were analysed for the primary endpoint according to the intention-to-treat protocol. RNFL thinning was less apparent after erythropoietin treatment: Thickness of the RNFL decreased by a median of 7.5μm by week 16 (mean±STD: 10.55±17.54μm) compared to a median of 16.0μm (22.65±29.18μm) in the placebo group (p=0.0357). Decrease in retrobulbar diameter of the optic nerve was smaller in the erythropoietin group (p=0.0112). VEP latencies at week 16 were shorter in erythropoietin-treated patients than in the placebo group (p=0.0011). Testing of visual functions revealed trends towards an improved outcome after erythropoietin treatment.

Interpretation: These results give the first indications that erythropoietin might be neuroprotective in optic neuritis.

 
 


"We have been promoting optic neuritis as a model to demonstrate that treatments may be useful for progressive MS and have one compound in trial at the moment. This study uses a different drug called Erythropoietin. This is a growth factor that stimulates red blood cells and is sometimes used by unscrupulous atheletes who blood dope. However, as shown in animal studies it also has the potential to be neuroprotective. Therefore it may not only be of value of controlling retinal nerve loss in optic neuritis, but it also has the potential to control progressive MS. Although there are a number of clinical versions of EPO, there is also a variant that is neuroprotective (saves nerves from damage) but does not cause the production of red blood cells. This is really great news, but further studies will be needed to see if is really is useful for progressive MS and how it should be delivered as a therapeutic. This is a fantastic step in the right direction."

A New Note from Doctor M &M 
"I would not like to be the devil's advocate but there are side-effects associated with erythropoietin treatment. It should not be taken without medical supervision". 

"It is used in people with chronic kidney failure and other situations with low red blood cells counts.  As you may be aware, it has been used as sports performance enhancers (doping).

The following information is compiled from the Summary of Product Characteristics of erythropoietin. And this is the very pure drug, not the one bought in the internet.

The serious adverse drug reactions include venous and arterial thromboses and embolism (that may have fatal outcomes), such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, arterial thrombosis (including heart attacks), retinal thrombosis. Strokes,  both infarctions and haemorrhages, and transient ischaemic attacks have also been reported.

There can be a dose-dependent increase in blood pressure or aggravation of existing hypertension with need for close monitoring of the blood pressure. Other common side-effects observed seizures, diarrhoea, nausea, headache, flu-like illness, pyrexia, rash and vomiting. Influenza-like illness including headaches, arthralgia, myalgia, and pyrexia may occur especially at the start of treatment. 

In all patients, haemoglobin levels should be closely monitored due to a potential increased risk of thromboembolic events and fatal outcomes when patients are treated at haemoglobin levels above the target for the indication of use.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including cases of rash, urticaria, anaphylactic reaction, and angioneurotic oedema have been reported. The most severe side-effects seem to be hypertensive crisis with encephalopathy and seizures, which are medical emmergencies.

Some companies have devised erythropoietin derivatives that are tissue protective but do not increase the numbers of red bloods cells".

THEREFORE DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO INVESTIGATE THE USE OF THIS DRUG, UNLESS AS PART OF AN APPROVED CLINICAL TRIAL


Labels: