title: Immunological and clinical response to immunosuppressive treatment in paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical and immunological response to immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide in two patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports. Clinical and immunological follow-up data available for 4 1/2 years in the first patient and for 2 years in the second patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1500-bed university hospital and a 1200-bed university teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyclophosphamide intermittent treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical disability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of the patients, who was treated from an early stage, recovered completely. The other patient showed a partial clinical response. While the two patients were receiving a maintenance regimen with cyclophosphamide, the conditions of both patients remained stable for at least 2 years. In both patients, intrathecal antibody synthesis declined considerably.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early induction of immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide should be tried in treating patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology Hanover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wurster
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Patzold
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sailer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide