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Efgartigimod Combined With Steroid Treatment for HAM/TSP: A Case Report
Jiahui Zeng1,2, Wotu Tian1,3, Jingran Yang1,2
1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology
|July 30, 2025
Summary
This case study shows that combining efgartigimod with corticosteroids can significantly improve symptoms in patients with refractory HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), including spasticity and bladder function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a debilitating neurological condition with few effective treatments.
- Current therapeutic options for HAM/TSP are limited, often leading to progressive neurological decline.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old female patient with a decade-long history of progressive HAM/TSP, unresponsive to rituximab, presented with worsening spastic paraparesis and neurogenic bladder.
- The patient's neurological symptoms and quality of life had deteriorated despite previous treatments.
Findings:
- Combination therapy with efgartigimod and corticosteroids resulted in significant clinical improvement.
- Observed benefits included reduced spasticity, enhanced bladder function, and an improved quality of life.
Implications:
- Efgartigimod shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for refractory HAM/TSP.
- This combination therapy represents a potential new immune modulation strategy for HAM/TSP.
- Further research is warranted to explore the efficacy and safety of efgartigimod-based combination treatments in HAM/TSP.
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