Plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption in patients with steroid refractory multiple sclerosis relapses

Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) are treated with high-dose intravenous steroids during acute relapses. In case of steroid refractory relapses, patients are treated with plasmapheresis or immunoadsorption. Until now data concerning the efficacy of both procedures are scarce. Visual evoked potentials (VEP), visual acuity and degree of remission of deficits caused by a relapse that had led to admission in MS patients (n = 48) treated with PLEX, IA or both in a single university centre setting were evaluated retrospectively. In a grouped analysis of patients treated with combined PLEX/IA, PLEX or IA alone, patients in all groups profited as assessed by VEP. Visual acuity also showed a trend towards a better performance, but lacked significance. In a subgroup analysis only concerning patients with initially pathological VEP there was a significant beneficial effect in the groups treated with PLEX/IA as well as in the group summarizing all patients. The combination of PLEX and IA provides a valid treatment option in steroid-refractory MS-relapses, and IA should be considered in acute relapses especially in patients with side effect of PLEX.