Kawashima Hisashi, Togashi Takehiro, Yamanaka Gaku, Nakajima Mitsuhiro, Nagai Makoto, Aritaki Kentarou, Kashiwagi Yasuyo, Takekuma Kouji, Hoshika Akinori
Department of Paediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.
J Infect. 2005 Aug;51(2):E53-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2004.08.017.
Patients with a new type of influenza-associated encephalopathy with high mortality are increasing in Japan and the United States. We present three patients treated with methyprednisolone pulse treatment and plasma exchange to remove cytokines, and all three patients recovered without severe sequela. IL-6 decreased dramatically after the start of the plasma exchange and methyprednisolone. Therefore when influenza-associated encephalopathy is actually diagnosed, steroid pulse therapy should be started at an early stage, and when signs of DIC and/or MOF appear, plasma exchange is recommended to remove the cytokines and NOx.
