We tried to compare the efficacy of
plasma exchange (PE) with that of
intravenous immunoglobulin (
IVIG) in patients with postinfectious
polyneuritis (
Guillain-Barré syndrome [GBS] and cranial
neuritis). Fifteen patients with postinfectious
polyneuritis were divided into 2 groups. The
IVIG group included 5 cases of GBS and 2 cases of postinfectious cranial
neuritis (ophthalmoplegic type). The PE group included 5 cases of GBS and 3 cases of postinfectious cranial
neuritis (ophthalmoplegic type). The changes and incidences of improvement of muscle strength scores (MSSs) and ocular movement scores (OMSs) were evaluated before treatment and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks
after treatment. No significant differences between the
IVIG and PE groups were found in the MSSs or OMSs at any time
after treatment. These data suggested that PE and
IVIG had equivalent efficacy. In the
IVIG group, the proportion of suppressor-inducer T cells significantly increased (p < 0.01) (before versus
after treatment), and the proportion of suppressor-effector cells also increased but not significantly (before versus
after treatment). In the PE group, the percentage of suppressor-inducer T cells significantly decreased (p < 0.05) (before versus
after treatment) while the proportion of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells significantly increased (p < 0.05) (before versus
after treatment). The percentage of suppressor-effector T cells also increased (before versus
after treatment) but not significantly.