[Discontinuous cell separation as depletion therapy in chronic leukemias]

Blood cell separators have been successfully used in the treatment of chronic leukaemias. With the intermittent flow system Haemonetics model 30, we found it important to collect 150-300 ml buffy coat/cycle in order to obtain a substantial depletory effect. In 2 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia on short-term leukapheresis and in 1 patient with prolymphocytic leukaemia on long-term leukapheresis we found a definite decrease in the WBC count. 2 of them experienced a transitory improvement of their disease. Only minor side-effects occurred. However, the loss of erythrocytes and plasma albumin necessitated replacement therapy. From our experience the intermittent flow blood cell separator can be successfully used in the treatment of well-defined forms of chronic leukaemia.