title: Successful treatment of primary amyloidosis with dimethylsulfoxide and cytoreductive chemotherapy.
abstract: A 42-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital because of congestive heart failure (CHF). A diagnosis of primary amyloidosis was made on the basis of a heavy deposition of amyloid in the gastric submucosal tissue in addition to the hematological and immunological findings. Intermittent chemotherapy in combination with daily oral dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in a dramatic decrease of plasma cells in the marrow as well as a gradual improvement of CHF. With this therapy, the cardiac ejection fraction was markedly improved. This case indicates that the long-standing administration of DMSO combined with cytoreductive chemotherapy is therefore effective in treating some cases with primary amyloidosis.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide