Successful treatment of primary amyloidosis with dimethylsulfoxide and cytoreductive chemotherapy.

A 42-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital because of congestive heart failure (CHF). A diagnosis of primary amyloidosis was made on the basis of a heavy deposition of amyloid in the gastric submucosal tissue in addition to the hematological and immunological findings. Intermittent chemotherapy in combination with daily oral dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in a dramatic decrease of plasma cells in the marrow as well as a gradual improvement of CHF. With this therapy, the cardiac ejection fraction was markedly improved. This case indicates that the long-standing administration of DMSO combined with cytoreductive chemotherapy is therefore effective in treating some cases with primary amyloidosis.