[Therapeutic plasma exchange: a review of the literature]

G Ital Nefrol. 2012 Jan-Feb:29 Suppl 54:S40-8.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Therapeutic plasma exchange is an extracorporeal plasmapheresis method for removing high-molecular-weight pathogens and toxins from the circulation. It can be indicated in many clinical conditions, both kidney-related and non-kidney-related. This review focuses on clinical trials related to Goodpasture syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and acute renal insufficiency due to multiple myeloma. It also discusses the difficulties and opportunities associated with the development of a randomized controlled multicenter study and of a web-based database. Finally, we report a summary of the risks and complications of therapeutic plasma exchange and how we can update the information on their frequency and seriousness by means of a longitudinal prospective multicenter study open to all centers performing the procedure.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / etiology
  • Acute Kidney Injury / therapy*
  • Algorithms
  • Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation* / methods
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Plasma Exchange* / methods
  • Plasmapheresis* / methods
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / therapy*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome