Plasma exchange for primary autoimmune autonomic failure

N Engl J Med. 2005 Oct 13;353(15):1585-90. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa051719.

Abstract

We report on a patient with long-standing severe autonomic failure that affected his sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Antibodies against the ganglionic acetylcholine receptors were detected in the serum. Removal of the antibodies by means of plasma exchange resulted in a dramatic clinical improvement.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy*
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / immunology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Ganglia, Autonomic / immunology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Male
  • Plasma Exchange*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Recurrence
  • Syncope / etiology
  • Syncope / therapy

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Prednisolone