Plasmapheresis and Rheumatic Disorders

Abstract

In the last thirty years, several studies have documented the effect of the therapeutic apheresis in eliminating pathogenic autoanyibodies and immune complexes from circulation. This modality of extracorporeal therapy is still not accepted as first existing controlled line options, which may be due to studies failing to confirm any obvious benefits.

However, as evidence that biological_changes are possible with apheresis, plasmapheresis has been shown to be capable of reducing the concentrations of antibodies to double-stranded DNA or immune complexes in systemic lupus erythematosus, and lymphocytapheresis to be capable of producing lymphopenia in rheumatoid arthritis.

Even with the most careful planning and monitoring, adverse reactions may occur during the procedure of plasmapheresis. Clinical complications occur in 3-5% of patients treated with therapeutic plasma[heresis, they are mostly mild and trasient resulting of fluid and electrolytes imbalance,in particular hypocalcemia, reactions to albumin or plasma, or reduction in drug concentrations to subtherabeutic levels because of plasma exchange.