The treatment of experimental allergic neuritis by plasma exchange.
Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) is a demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system that can be induced in laboratory animals. This disorder has been considered to show many similarities to acute inflammatory polyneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome, GBS). Reports that plasma exchange may benefit patients with GBS prompted the investigation of the effect of plasma exchange in EAN. A controlled study was performed on New Zealand White rabbits. Sixteen animals were allocated to control or treatment groups at the onset of the disease. Clinical assessment on days 7 and 14 showed that treated animals were less severely affected neurologically (P = 0.05, day 7; P less than 0.001 day 14), with a commensurate reduction in the severity of the histological lesions in peripheral nerves.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000473:pathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; D009444:Neuritis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011817:Rabbits; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors