Plasmapheresis in treatment of human T-lymphotropic virus type-I associated myelopathy

Lancet. 1988 Nov 12;2(8620):1109-13. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)90525-9.

Abstract

In 11 of 18 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy (HAM) gait, sensory, and/or sphincter disturbance improved with plasmapheresis (4 to 6 sessions in 2 weeks), and the effects were maintained for 2 to 4 weeks. Plasmapheresis lowered the titre of HTLV-I antibody in serum but not in cerebrospinal fluid, and change of HTLV-I antibody titres did not correlate with the effects of plasmapheresis. These results suggest that plasmapheresis is useful treatment, at least in producing a temporary improvement, in patients with HAM, and that some humoral factor(s), but not HTLV-I antibody, may be important in the pathogenesis of HAM.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis
  • Antibodies, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Anus Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Anus Diseases / therapy
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / immunology
  • Deltaretrovirus Infections / therapy*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Locomotion
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement Disorders / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Movement Disorders / therapy
  • Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Nervous System Diseases / therapy
  • Plasmapheresis*
  • Sensation
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / immunology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases / therapy*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral