[Immunomodulation with apheresis technics]

The use of apheresis therapy (plasmapheresis/plasmafiltration or cytopheresis) was successful in numerous immunological diseases. Autoimmune and immune complex diseases as well as paraproteinemias with hyperviscosity syndrome (M. Waldenström, plasmocytoma) are the main indications. The several modifications of apheresis and its indications are outlined, and possible immune regulatoric effects of apheresis therapy are discussed. Finally this paper refers to beginning changes from unspecific to more selective methods of apheresis (cascade filtration, cryofiltration, immunoadsorption, enzymatic degradation, continuous electrophoresis) and its significance for clinical and experimental immunology.