David Alan Olges and Vanessa Wyche Graham
Background: Acrolein has been implicated as an irritating/exacerbating factor in animal models of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In animal studies, Apresoline (Hydralazine) has acted as a successful acrolein scavenging agent and resulted in reduced behavioral deficits and decreased myelin damage. It has been hypothesized that Apresoline would be equally successful as a disease modifying treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Objective: To describe the case of acrolein reduction in a patient with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis taking Apresoline.
Methods: Case study.
Results: The patient was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and found to have an elevated level of acrolein. After 60 days of Apresoline treatment, the patient’s acrolein level was reduced to a normal level. Dosage was reduced to establish a minimum effective dosage with no assessed increase in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis activity.
Conclusion: Elevated levels of acrolein were documented in this relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patient. Apresoline was demonstrated to be an effective acrolein scavenger in this patient and a minimum effective dosage was established.