title: Plasmapheresis in treatment of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I associated myelopathy.
abstract: In 11 of 18 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy (HAM) gait, sensory, and/or sphincter disturbance improved with plasmapheresis (4 to 6 sessions in 2 weeks), and the effects were maintained for 2 to 4 weeks. Plasmapheresis lowered the titre of HTLV-I antibody in serum but not in cerebrospinal fluid, and change of HTLV-I antibody titres did not correlate with the effects of plasmapheresis. These results suggest that plasmapheresis is useful treatment, at least in producing a temporary improvement, in patients with HAM, and that some humoral factor(s), but not HTLV-I antibody, may be important in the pathogenesis of HAM.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000628:therapy; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000628:therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012677:Sensation; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral