Plasmapheresis in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

Plasmapheresis has been used as a supplementary method for the treatment of 11 cases of SLE (7 with lupus nephritis and 4 without renal changes). In 7 cases there was a marked improvement during the plasma exchanges which lasted from 2 months to 3 years of follow up. In one case the direct result was satisfactory but after 3 months there was a severe relapse and the patient died. In 3 cases (two without lupus nephritis) plasmapheresis was without any effect. We believe that plasmapheresis is chiefly indicated in severe cases with high levels of ds-DNA antibody titers.