title: [Plasmapheresis in clinical practice].
abstract: Plasmapheresis is an immunomodulatory procedure with immunosuppressive effect. Plasmapheresis involves taking blood, separating off the plasma and returning the red cell-enriched fraction to the patient. In plasmapheresis improvement is due to the removal of mediators of tissue damage. Therapeutic plasmapheresis has been used in many diseases in which immunological mechanisms are proved. It has been noted that there may be a "rebound" in the level of antibodies and immune complexes after plasmapheresis, perhaps due to elimination of feedback suppressor mechanisms. For that reason, plasmapheresis is only effective when used as part of an immunosuppressive regimen which also includes steroids and/or cytotoxic agents.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Allergy and Immunology, University Clinical Center, Beograd.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ljaljević
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dimcić
authors.forename: Lj
authors.initials: Lj
authors.lastname: Stefanović
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomić
authors.forename: Lj
authors.initials: Lj
authors.lastname: Tomasević
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasković
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010956:Plasmapheresis
vernacular_title: Plazmafereza u klinickoj praksi.