A randomised double-blind placebo-controlied trial of intravenous methylprednisolone versus (range 19-72) and a mean duration of disease of 5-4 years (range 0-1-27). Informed consent was obtained from each patient and the study was approved by the local ethics committee.Following randomisation, each patient received either 500 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone in 100 ml of normal saline by slow intravenous infusion together with five placebo tablets, or 100 ml of placebo intravenously with five 100 mg tablets of methylprednisolone orally, for five days. All patients were scored by a "blind" assessor at days 0, 5 and 28 using the disability and functional rating score devised by Kurtzke;8 specific enquiries were made regarding possible adverse effects.

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