[Clinical use of IM-PH immuno-columns]

The results of plasma perfusion through immunoabsorbent columns were assessed in neuroimmunological conditions. The method is a modified plasmapheresis. The plasma is passed through a column of polyvinyl alcohol gel bound with phenylalanine. Three patients were treated by this method (two with acute polyneuropathies due to the Guillain-Barré syndrome, and the third with a polyneuropathy related to Hepatitis A). Each patient underwent 3 sessions, on alternate days for a six day period, with perfusion of 6-6.5 1 of plasma. No adverse effects were observed during treatment or changes in PAO values. Serum Na+-K+-Cl-Ca++-Gluc-Tot Prot-Alb-RBC-WBC-Hb-Urea and Creatinine were constant. Complete remission of the peripheral symptoms of the patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome was observed whilst the third patient had a partial remission (in the left arm). These observations suggest that this method may be of therapeutic value in patients with acute polyneuropathy due to the Guillain-Barré syndrome.