Effect of plasma exchange and thoracic duct drainage on immunological status in glomerulonephritis.
The effect of thoracic duct drainage (16 patients treated) and plasmapheresis (15 cases) on immunological status has been studied in patients suffering from immunological glomerular disease. Lymph drainage proved to affect mostly cellular immunity. Besides a marked reduction in peripheral lymphocyte count and changes in behaviour of E(T-RFC) and E(A-RFC), different functional behaviour was observed in lymphocytes from drainage and blood lymphocytes after mitogen stimulation. Plasmapheresis was associated with changes mainly in humoral parameters, i.e. rapid disappearance of circulating immune complexes. Some increased T suppressor activity was also documented in patients with active lupus nephritis.
D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D004322:Drainage; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008196:Lymph; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013897:Thoracic Duct
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007136:Immunoglobulins