title: Severe relapse of multiple sclerosis during plasma exchange treatment.
abstract: To describe and treat a relapse of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis occurring during escalating therapeutic plasma exchange for a previous relapse. A 47-year-old woman with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis received plasma exchange as escalating therapy for a severe prolonged steroid-refractory relapse. During plasma exchange the patient developed another relapse with new neurological symptoms. The newly occurring relapse responded convincingly to pulsed high-dose steroids. During escalating relapse treatment with plasma exchange a new relapse can occur and, where appropriate, treatment with pulsed steroids can be useful, even if the previous relapse was unresponsive to glucocorticoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Clinic and Polyclinic for Neurology, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Straße 20, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matzke
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metze
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grossmann
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benecke
authors.forename: Uwe Klaus
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Zettl
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids