Immunoglobulin G immunosuppression of multiple sclerosis. Suppression of all three major lymphocyte subsets
R. B. Tenser, K. A. Hay and J. A. Aberg
Division of Neurology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey.
Six patients with relapsing chronic progressive multiple sclerosis were
treated on 2 consecutive days with large amounts of IgG to induce
immunosuppression. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were monitored for 5
weeks after IgG treatment to determine immunosuppression. Decreased numbers
of B, T, and natural killer lymphocytes were detected after treatment.
Lymphocyte numbers were at a nadir 1 week after treatment, but an
immunosuppressive effect continued to be present after 5 weeks. Although
clinical efficacy was not evident in this brief open trial, the decrease of
peripheral lymphocyte numbers and the apparent safety of the procedure
warrant further study.
