title: Plasma exchange in severe spinal attacks associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma exchange (PE) is increasingly undertaken in diseases involving humoral factors and is proven to be beneficial in acute demyelinating diseases. Spinal attacks in relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and in extensive transverse myelitis (ETM) - a truncated form of NMO with spinal involvement - are usually devastating.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We retrospectively studied the outcome of PE-treated versus steroid-only treated spinal attacks in relapsing NMO and ETM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 96 severe spinal attacks in 43 Afro-Caribbean patients. PE was given as an add-on therapy in 29 attacks. Expanded disability status score (EDSS) was obtained before attack, during the acute and residual stage. We defined the DeltaEDSS as the rise from basal to residual EDSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DeltaEDSS was found to be lower in the PE-treated group (1.2 +/- 1.6 vs 2.6 +/- 2.3; P < 0.01). A low basal impairment is associated with a better outcome. Improvement was obtained in both NMO-IgG negative and positive NMO attacks. Minor adverse events manifested in seven PE sessions (24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PE appears to be a safe add-on therapy that may be employed early in severe spinal attacks in the NMO spectrum disorders in order to maximize improvement rate. PE efficiency is independent of NMO-IgG positivity.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, Hôpital Zobda Quitman, 97261 Fort-de-France, Martinique, French West Indies. mickael_bonnan@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonnan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olindo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehdaoui
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smadja
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabre