Plasma exchange: a selective form of blood-letting.
The technique of, and indications for, plasma exchange are presented. This selective form of plasma removal has re-established "blood-letting" in medical therapeutics on a scientific basis. It is the most appropriate therapy when hyperviscosity or haemostatic failure complicate immunoproliferative disease. Plasma exchange is also a significant advance in the management of fulminant forms of autoimmune disease, but in many other conditions it must be regarded as experimental.
D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000628:therapy; D001815:Bloodletting / Q000379:methods; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000628:therapy; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy; D009393:Nephritis / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000628:therapy; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy