Plasma exchange for primary autoimmune autonomic failure.
We report on a patient with long-standing severe autonomic failure that affected his sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Antibodies against the ganglionic acetylcholine receptors were detected in the serum. Removal of the antibodies by means of plasma exchange resulted in a dramatic clinical improvement.
Schroeder
Christoph
C
Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin.
Vernino
Steven
S
Birkenfeld
Andreas L
AL
Tank
Jens
J
Heusser
Karsten
K
Lipp
Axel
A
Benter
Thomas
T
Lindschau
Carsten
C
Kettritz
Ralph
R
Luft
Friedrich C
FC
Jordan
Jens
J
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000276:immunology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011239:Prednisolone