Plasma Exchange in Alzheimer's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Hematology

Background:

• Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) removes harmful plasma components like autoantibodies and toxins.
• TPE is effective for various neurologic, immunologic, and hematologic diseases.
• Albumin infusion is a key component of TPE, aiding in fluid replacement and disease management.

Approach:

• This review explores the rationale for using TPE in Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
• It examines the potential mechanism involving amyloid-beta (Aβ) concentration gradients and albumin infusion.
• The review critically assesses existing clinical evidence for TPE in AD treatment.

Key Points:

• TPE's mechanism in AD may involve modulating Aβ levels.
• Albumin replacement is a crucial aspect of TPE for AD.
• Potential biases in current AD TPE studies are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• TPE presents a potential therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's Disease.
• Further rigorous clinical trials are needed to validate TPE efficacy in AD.
• Understanding and mitigating biases are essential for interpreting TPE's role in AD.