Efficacy of leukocytapheresis and low-dose prednisolone treatment in a patient with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)
Ijichi, S.; Ijichi, N.; Osame, M.; Izumihara, T.; Niimura, T.
Rinsho Shinkeigaku 30(5): 544-547
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-918X PMID: 2401115 Document Number: 356095
The patient, a 66-year-old woman, was admitted because of a two year history of slowly progressive gait disturbance. A diagnosis of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) was made on the basis of the clinical and serological criteria. Although the ordinary dose of oral prednisolone (PSL) is more than 30 mg in the treatment of HAM, we treated this patient by low-dose (5-10 mg) oral PSL administration. A series of leukocytapheresis performed before the PSL treatment halted the progression of symptoms transiently. Alterations in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) subpopulations and augmented autologous proliferative response of PBLs improved concurrently with the resolution of neurological symptoms after the low-dose PSL treatment. The result suggests that some cases with HAM may respond with PSL treatment in low doses.