Prednisone and plasma exchange improve suppressor cell function in chronicinflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

We have recently demonstrated that ConA-induced suppressor cell function is defective in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). To assess whether this defect plays a role in disease activity and its reversa l is important in recovery, we studied modifications of ConA-induced suppre ssor cell function induced by prednisone and plasma exchange in 20 patients with CIDP. We found a significant increase towards normal of ConA-induced suppressor cell function after treatment in concurrence with clinical impro vement. Induction of suppression, presumably through favorable modification s of the cytokine network or other humoral mediators, might be one, among o thers, of the mechanisms through which prednisone and plasma, exchange are effective in CIDP, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.