[Treatment of immunologic diseases using plasma separation. Proven and unproved indications]

By experienced specialists plasma separation can be applied without any serious complications. It can be expected that in future specific principles of plasmapheresis for the elimination of pathogenetic agents will be developed. Even if the exact mechanism of action of this therapeutical principle is is not yet known in all details, plasma separation is indicated as a therapeutic emergency measure in patients with autoaggressive diseases especially in case the patient is endangered by marked progression of the disease and by the failure of conservative therapy with immunosuppressive agents. So far we have treated 48 patients with 206 plasma exchanges, most ot them because of immune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematodes and immunvascultits .