Hydroxychloroquine in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Treatment tested

• Hydroxychloroquine

Other measures (5)

Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent obtained * Men and women aged of 18 and 65 years inclusive * Who are followed at the Calgary MS Clinic * With Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, according to current diagnostic criteria * Screening Expanded Disability Status Scale score between 4.0 and 6.5 inclusive. * Screening timed 25 foot walk (average of two trials) of 5.5 seconds or more. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing treatment with antimalarial drugs, amiodarone, dapsone or digoxin * Patients with known retinopathy * Patients whose screening ophthalmological exam shows retinopathy * Patients whose screening MRI scan shows gadolinium enhancing lesions * Patients with known renal insufficiency * Patients with known significant hepatic impairment * Patients with known porphyria * Patients with known allergy or other intolerability to HCQ, or to gadolinium MRI contrast agent * Patients currently using Fampridine or 4-aminopyridine * Patients planning to start Fampridine or 4-aminopyridine during the study period * Patients planning to start Baclofen or Tizanidine during the duration of the study * Patients who increase the dose of Baclofen or Tizanidine during the study period * Patients who receive treatment with Botulinum toxin in the leg muscles during the study period * Patients using amiodarone, dapsone, digoxin or antimalarial drugs other than HCQ * Patients who are unable or unwilling to undergo gadolinium enhanced MRI scans * Pregnant or breast-feeding women

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine if HCQ in a dose of 400mg daily can prevent worsening of walking ability in people PPMS. The number of participants in this study will be 35. A maximum of 42 people with PPMS will be included. The trial is funded through a private donation to the Hotchkiss Brain Institute MS Translational Clinical Trials Research Program and the University of Calgary. There is no sponsorship from the pharmaceutical industry.