We measured by enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serum levels of IL-12, IL-10 and CCL2 before, 5 days and 1 month after the initiation of treatment with IVMP in 20 patients with MS in relapse.
A significant increase of IL-10 and decrease of CCL2 serum levels was observed (p = 0.0028 and 0.045 respectively) five days after the onset of steroid treatment but not after one month. Steroid treatment had no influence in serum levels of IL-12.
The clinical improvement of our MS patients with relapse following the treatment with methylprednisolone may be associated with an immediate but not a long-term modification of serum levels of IL-10 and CCL2. IL-12 may not be influenced by steroid treatment.