Plasmapheresis in acute episodes of fulminant CNS inflammatory demyelination.
We present six patients with acute fulminant episodes of CNS inflammatory demyelination who responded to therapeutic plasmapheresis after failing a course of high-dose methylprednisolone administered IV. Neurologic improvement occurred in three of the patients following the second plasmapheresis. Dramatic improvement in motor function (four patients) and language (two patients) began within 2 to 14 days and persisted during the 6 to 35 months (mean, 15 months) of follow-up. Results of this uncontrolled study suggest that plasmapheresis in the absence of other immunosuppressive drugs may have a role in the treatment of severe episodes of inflammatory demyelination in a select subset of MS patients.
Rodriguez
M
M
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Karnes
W E
WE
Bartleson
J D
JD
Pineda
A A
AA
D000328:Adult; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008775:Methylprednisolone