[Extracorporeal circulation methods in the treatment of nonspecific aortic arteritis]

Development of a protocol of multiple-modality treatment of patients with nonspecific aortoarteritis (NAA) making use of plasmapheresis and specific plasma adsorption of proteinases.

Six patients with NAA aged 15 to 58 years were examined using ultrasonic dopplerography, magnetic imaging, and angiography of the large vessels. Red cell sedimentation rate was assessed, cathepsin G activity, antitryptic activity, and content of C-reactive protein in the blood measured. Drug therapy was supplemented by repeated sessions of plasmapheresis and specific plasma adsorption on immotin.

After sessions of plasmapheresis (n = 17) and plasma adsorption (n = 13), increased cathepsin G activity dropped by at least 30% (in 3 patients it normalized), the content of C-reactive protein decreased in the presence of normal antitryptic activity (in patients with decreased activity it normalized and in those with increased values a tendency to normalization was observed). Red cell sedimentation rate decreased, particularly so 1 and 2 months after treatment; the patients felt better.

Multiple-modality treatment of NAA patients making use of plasmapheresis and plasma adsorption decreases the activity of the inflammatory process.