Intensive plasmapheresis in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy

Two insulin-dependent diabetic patients with advanced nonproliferative and early proliferative retinopathy showed regression of diabetic retinopathy after three weeks of intensive plasmapheresis. Because of the sudden unexplained death in one patient, the study was stopped. However, these observations in this pilot study suggest that factors mediated through plasma contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy.