Lack of effect of fish oil-enriched diet on experimental allergic neuritis in Lewis rats

Cerebrospinal fluid pheresis in Guillain Barré syndrome

While plasmapheresis is established in the treatment of acute polyneuroradiculitis, disabling pareses may last long, persisting neurological deficits remain frequent, and costs and side-effects are considerable. Repeated filtration of cerebrospinal fluid may remove pathogenetically relevant cells and polypeptides. Observations in 12 severe Guillain-Barré patients treated with CSF pheresis indicate that it is a safe and effective procedure. We hypothesize mechanisms of action of and potential indications for CSF pheresis as a more general concept. In inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, CSF filtration could be combined with 'dynamic' cerebrospinal fluid pheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, cryoprecipitation, and/or immuno-adsorption to increase its effectiveness.

n-3 fatty acids and leucocytes

The evidence presented here favours the view that dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids results in attenuated activity of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes formed through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in leucocytes. Neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis seem to decrease, although this may depend on the patient groups studied. n-3 fatty acids increase the proliferative responses of lymphocytes. It is less clear, whether n-3 fatty acids affect other parts of leucocyte function. The possible value of n-3 PUFAs in inflammatory diseases in humans needs to be documented in carefully conducted clinical trials, which also should look carefully for possible side effects. However, the results obtained so far have been promising. The modulating effect of n-3 fatty acids on leucocyte activity-together with their other effects-could be favourable in atherosclerosis and coronary disease.