title: Membrane plasma exchange in experimental allergic neuritis: effect on antibody levels and clinical course.
abstract: The effect of membrane plasma exchange on the course of chronic experimental allergic neuritis in rabbits is described. Using miniature membrane plasma separators conscious animals were treated with 4 exchanges over 5 days removing one plasma volume per procedure and using a non-immunogenic gelatin plasma solution as replacement. Comparisons of clinical scores between control and treated groups indicated that treated animals received significant benefit from plasma exchange (day 1 post-treatment P less than 0.002; day 3 post-treatment P less than 0.01). However, relapse was observed in all plasma exchanged animals such that by day 8 post-treatment there was no significant difference in clinical scores between the two groups. Quantitation of anti-myelin IgG and IgM by ELISA assay showed that 55-60% of circulating antibody was removed per exchange. Rapid post-exchange antibody rebound was observed for both IgG and IgM so that pre-exchange levels were re-established within 24-48 h. However, no significant overshoot in circulating levels of anti-myelin IgG nor IgM could be observed. It is probable that long-term remission as a result of therapeutic plasma exchange is a function of effective circulating plasma removal and if present, the suppression of ongoing antigenic stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schindhelm
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies