Long-term antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin in patients with multiple sclerosis

There are conflicting results concerning an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and MS (multiple sclerosis). In the present study, we investigated a possible therapeutic option with antibiotics. In our randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study, 28 patients with the confirmed diagnosis of MS [61% relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS), 32% secondary chronic-progressive MS (SP-MS) and 7% primary chronic progressive MS (PP-MS)] were treated over a time period of 12 months with three cycles of a 6-week oral antibiotic therapy with roxithromycin (300 mg per day) or placebo. No significant differences were observed in patients with RR-MS regarding the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and the relapse rate when comparing treatment with roxithromycin and placebo. Our study shows that the patients with MS do not profit from a long-term antibiotic treatment with roxithromycin compared to placebo treatment. A causative connection between bacterial infections with C. pneumonia and MS therefore does seem very unlikely.