Changes of selected hematologic parameters during long-term immunoadsorption therapy

Changes of selected hematologic parameters were studied in six patients treated with immunoadsorption for myasthenia gravis. The mean duration of therapy was 18.6months; 245 procedures were performed in total. Before and after each procedure the full blood count was examined. A decrease was noted in the hemoglobin concentration (median -7.27%) and in platelet count (median -5.63%) after each procedure. On the other hand, an increase in leukocyte count was noticed after each procedure (median 6.63%). However, in three patients, it was observed that with increasing numbers of procedures, the leukocyte count rises were lower during long-term treatment. We suppose that the decrease in hemoglobin concentration was induced both by the large volume of blood samples collected for laboratory testing and by the residual volume of blood which remains in the tubing. From the continuous decrease in leukocyte count after long-term treatment with immunoadsorption in our three patients, it may be concluded, that some type of immunomodulatory effect (immunosuppression) is involved.