OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of monthly oral methylprednisolone pulse treatment in progressive MS.

METHODS: 30 progressive MS patients were treated with oral methylprednisolone every month. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Out of 102 leukocyte phenotypes investigated, 25 changed at nominal significance from baseline to week 12 (p<0.05). After correction for multiple comparisons, we found 5 subpopulations that changed compared to baseline. No pattern were suggesting modulation of Th17 or TFH cells.

CONCLUSION: Methylprednisolone pulse treatment has some effects on circulating immune cells but does not modulate markers of Th17 and TFH cell activity in progressive MS.