Treatment of amyloidosis with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
Morassi, P.; Massa, F.; Mesesnel, E.; Magris, D.; D'Agnolo, B.
Minerva Medica 80(1): 65-70
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 2915815 Document Number: 334404
In this study we have investigated the role of oral dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) therapy in 2 patients with primary amyloidosis (AL) and in 2 patients with secondary amyloidosis (AA) to long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. DMSO treatment produced no beneficial effects in the patients with idiopathic amyloidosis. Instead the patients with secondary amyloidosis experienced a subjective improvement, a decrease of inflammatory activity of the rheumatoid arthritis and an unequivocal improvement of renal function following 3-6 months of DMSO therapy. No serious side effects of DMSO were observed except for unpleasant breath odour. We conclude that a treatment with oral DMSO may prolong life of patients with secondary amyloidosis.