ABSTRACT
Aim: Plasmapheresis is a process in which blood is taken out of body, blood cells are separated from the plasma by a plasmapheresis device, and blood cells are returned into the circulation in a replacement fluid (fresh frozen plasma, albumin). Plasmapheresis is used in nephrology practice for humoral rejection in renal transplantation, desensitization in case of ABO incompatibility or in sensitized patients with positive panel reactive antibodies, crescentic glomerulonephritis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and treatment of antiglomerular basal membrane disease. Its indications have been increasing.
Material and methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the patients who had plasmapheresis in Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Nephrology Clinic between 2007 and 2014, and presented our clinical indications for plasmapheresis and treatment efficiency.
Results: A total of 425 sessions of plasmapheresis were performed in 44 patients (23 of them females) with a mean age of 39.34±14.72 years. The indications for treatment were post-transplant rejection in 15 (34%), rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in 10 (22.7%), hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in 7 (16%), cold type hemolytic anemia in 4 (9%), antiglomerular basal membrane disease in 3 (6.8%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 2 (4.6%), desensitization protocol in 1 (2.3%), membranous glomerulonephritis in 1 (2.3%), and anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome in 1 (2.3%) patient. Clinical response was seen in 17 (39%) patients after plasmapheresis, however there was no response in 27 (61%) of them.
Conclusion: Plasmapheresis is used in nephrology practice as a treatment option with a low complication rate, and a high treatment efficiency.
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