Therapeutic Plasma Exchange-Does Age Matter? A Single-Center Study.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Extracorporeal therapies

Background:

• Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) removes large molecular weight substances from plasma.
• TPE use is limited in pediatric and geriatric populations due to safety concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the indications, applications, and safety of TPE in children, adults, and the elderly.
• To compare complication rates across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 8335 TPE procedures in 981 patients (1982-2011).
• Categorization of patients into children (≤18 years), adults (>18 to <65 years), and elderly (≥65 years).

Main Results:

• TPE indications, access, fluid, and anticoagulation varied significantly by age group.
• Higher complication rates observed in the youngest (12.2%) and eldest (12.7%) patients compared to adults (9.9%).
• Severity of complications did not significantly differ across age groups.

Conclusions:

• TPE can be administered relatively safely across all age groups.
• Acknowledging age-specific patient differences is crucial for safe TPE prescription.