[Therapeutic plasmapheresis--a new form of adjuvant treatment (author's transl)]

We have been separating cells and plasma from the peripheral blood since 1967 for the isolation of lymphocytes and hence the preparation of ALG. Expanding the method following a therapeutic need the therapeutic plasmapheresis took its place in our clinical trials. We have carried out 210 plasmapheresis without complications. According to the clinical experience therapeutic plasmapheresis may be indicated in the following conditions: 1. some cases of intensive care patients (intoxications, metabolic disorders such as liver coma, thyreotoxicosis), 2.hyperviscosity-syndromes (plasmocytoma, macroglobulinemia), 3. immune complex diseases (e.g. systemic lupus erythematodes), 4.toxic antibody syndromes (Goodpasture-syndrome, graft rejection on the basis of HL-A-antibodies), 5.hyper-hydration and electrolyte imbalances in renal insufficiencies until hemodialysis can take place, 6. leukemias before intensive chemotherapy.