Related Experiment Videos
Outcome of collagen vascular diseases by treatment with plasmapheresis
H Hashimoto1, T Yano, T Kawanishi
1Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Plasmapheresis shows promise for treating rare autoimmune diseases like polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Collagen vascular diseases encompass a group of autoimmune disorders affecting connective tissues.
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) presents complex clinical challenges.
- Limited treatment options exist for severe manifestations of these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of plasmapheresis in patients with specific collagen vascular diseases.
- To assess treatment outcomes in polyarteritis nodosa (PN), Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), allergic granulomatous angitis (AGA), and SLE with APS.
- To identify clinical manifestations that respond favorably to plasmapheresis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted on 32 patients diagnosed with PN, WG, AGA, or SLE associated with APS.
- Treatment involved plasmapheresis, a procedure to remove plasma and its components.
- Patient outcomes and clinical improvements were systematically recorded.
Main Results:
- Overall, 41.7% of patients with PN, WG, and AGA showed improvement following plasmapheresis.
- In SLE patients with APS, plasmapheresis led to significant improvement in most clinical manifestations, including CNS lupus, thrombophlebitis, lung infarction, and recurrent abortions.
- Notable exceptions included one patient with thrombocytopenia and one with renal failure who did not fully recover.
Conclusions:
- Plasmapheresis is an influential treatment strategy for patients suffering from collagen vascular diseases.
- The procedure demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for diverse autoimmune conditions, including SLE with APS.
- Further research is warranted to optimize plasmapheresis protocols for specific patient populations and disease severities.
Abstract:
The outcome of collagen vascular diseases after treatment with plasmapheresis was studied in 9 patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PN), in 2 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), in 1 patient with allergic granulomatous angitis (AGA), and in 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Improvement after treatment with plasmapheresis was observed in 41.7% of the patients with PN, WG, and AGA. On the other hand, with the exception of 1 patient with thrombocytopenia and 1 patient with renal failure, all of the clinical manifestations, including thrombocytopenia, central nervous system (CNS) lupus, thrombophlebitis, lung infarction, and recurrent abortions in the SLE patients with APS, improved after plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis is thought to be an influential strategy of treatment for patients with collagen vascular diseases.