Role Of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis In Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease characterized by its symmetrical involvement of the synovial joints (Goldring, 2000). Van den Berg and Bresnihan, (1999) showed that IL-1 and TNF-o were found in high level in RA patients and these cytokines appear to directly contribute to disease activity. Plasmapheresis (PF) has been advocated in the treatment of active RA (Liu et al., 1997) with excellent results (Scofeild et al., 1998). The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of therapeutic plasmapheresis in RA activity. This study was carried out on sixty patients with active RA. Fifty• four were females and six were males with mean age of (40.18±9.83 years) and.the mean duration of illness was (47.47± 31.46 months). Fifteen normal volunteers were also included as control subjects for IL-I9 and TNF-o serum levels, twelve were females and three were males with mean age (41.12±9.72 years). • The patients were selected on the basis of severity of their disease and the lack of response to their modes of medical treatment. The patients were sustained on their medical treatment without changing their lines or doses. All patients and controls were negative from Hepatitis and AIDS. PF was done for all patients, 30ml /kg body weight of plasma were exchanged two times per week for three weeks.