Plasma exchange in episodes of severe inflammatory demyelination of the central nervous system. A report of six cases.
The standard therapy for episodes of severe acute inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system is high dose intravenous corticosteroids. A small proportion of patients fail to improve with this regime and their prognosis can become grave. A recent sham controlled double blind crossover trial in this group of patients demonstrated a significant benefit from plasma exchange. We report six patients with severe acute steroid-insensitive inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system treated with plasma exchange. We observed a clear improvement in five of these six patients. Whilst complications of plasma exchange occurred these did not outweigh the benefits. Our study supports the use of plasma exchange in severe acute steroid-insensitive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
Bennetto
Luke
L
University of Bristol, Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK. luke.bennetto@bristol.ac.uk
Totham
April
A
Healy
Pat
P
Massey
Edwin
E
Scolding
Neil
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D020278:Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS / Q000628:therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones