Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
Radiotherapy Improves the Disability in Patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Hossein-Ali Ebrahimi1, Mohammad-Hasan Larizadeh1, Mohammad Saba2
1Neurology Research Center, Department of Neurology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) as a complex neurological abnormality is marked with loss of myelin and axons due to chronic inflammatory and autoimmune responses. The modulatory properties of the low dose radiation (LDR) on inflammatory and immune responses have well known.
Objective:
The current research aimed to assess the impacts of LDR on the disability in patients suffering from MS.
Material And Methods:
This experimental pilot study was done on 10 patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). After magnetic resonance imaging, the SPMS patients were treated by LDR at a daily dose of 2 Gray for 5 consecutive days (totally 10 Gray dose) using a linear accelerator. The extent of the disability was evaluated one week after the completion of radiotherapy using expanded disability status scale (EDSS).
Results:
After receiving radiotherapy, the patients had a feeling of wellbeing of some sort. The mean of EDSS was significantly reduced after radiotherapy compared with before irradiation (7.4±0.45 vs 6.35±1.18; P<0.017). EDSS more decreased in younger SPMS patients (P=0.0001), and in the women after LDR (P=0.027).
Conclusion:
Radiotherapy can reduce fatigue and EDSS in patients with SPMS. The age and gender of patients may influence the LDR efficacy.
