title: Immunoadsorption therapy for steroid-unresponsive relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in steroid-unresponsive relapses of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an established therapy with response rates of up to 70%. Immunoadsorption (IA) specifically removes immunoglobulins from the patient's plasma. It is hypothesized that IA therapy might be better tolerated than and as effective as TPE in the treatment of MS relapses. Experiences with IA therapy of steroid-unresponsive MS relapses are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report our experiences with IA therapy in a series of 10 patients with steroid-unresponsive MS relapses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A marked to moderate clinical response with clear gain of function was observed in 66% of our patients. IA therapy was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IA therapy is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for steroid-unresponsive MS relapses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. trebst.corinna @ mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trebst
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bronzlik
authors.forename: Jan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kielstein
authors.forename: Bernhard M W
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stangel
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012008:Recurrence; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D013256:Steroids