A randomized trial of intravenous immunoglobulin in inflammatory demyelinating optic neuritis

Objective: To determine whether TV immunoglobulin (Mg) reverses chronic visual impairment in MS patients with optic neuritis (ON). Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase Il trial, 55 patients with persistent acuity loss after ON were randomized to receive either Mg 0.4 g/kg daily for 5 days followed by three single infusions monthly for 3 months, or placebo. Results: The trial was terminated by the National Eye Institute because of negative results when 55 of the planned 60 patients had been enrolled. Fifty-two patients completed the scheduled infusions, and 58 patients completed 12 months of follow-up. Analysis of this data indicated that a difference between treatment groups was not observed for the primary outcome measure, improvement in logMAR visual scores at 6 months (p = 0.766). Exploratory secondary analyses suggested that Mg treatment was associated with improvement in visual function (including logMAR visual scores at 6 months and visual fields at 6 and 12 months) in patients with clinically stable MS during the trial. Conclusions: Mg administration does not reverse persistent visual loss from ON to a degree that merits general use.