title: Accessible plasma exchange using membrane filter - a successfully treated case of TTP with repeated plasma exchanges.
abstract: Plasma exchanges with a hollow-fiber type plasma filter were attempted in a variety of diseases. The unit was easily assembled and the procedures were safely carried out by our dialysis personnel after some instruction. Approximately 2 liters of fresh frozen plasma were used during each plasma exchange and about the same amount of plasma was removed from the patient in 1.5 to 2 hours. This resulted in 66% replacement of patient's albumin on one occasion. Fifty-four plasma exchanges were done in seven patients. The procedure was well tolerated by all patients with only occasional muscle cramps or itching, which were treated with calcium gluconate infusion or antihistamines, respectively. A successfully treated case of TTP in which we used repeated membrane plasma exchanges combined with conventional treatment is also reported.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000628:therapy; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008177:Lupus Vulgaris / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008851:Micropore Filters; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy; D009393:Nephritis / Q000628:therapy; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000628:therapy*