title: Plasmapheresis and subsequent pulse cyclophosphamide in severe systemic lupus erythematosus. An interim report of the Lupus Plasmapheresis Study Group.
abstract: The rarity with which therapy-free remission is achieved in patients with severe SLE demand the continued search for improved treatment strategies. Possibly, therapeutic results can be improved by means of a "synchronized" combination of plasmaphereses followed by pulse cyclophosphamide (Ctx). If the hypothesis is correct, that plasmapheresis induces a compensatory "rebound" proliferation of pathogenic clones, then pulse Ctx applied immediately after plasmapheresis should attack these activated clones when they are most vulnerable and, ideally, eliminate them. Employing a strict variant of this strategy in a pilot study, treatment-free remission lasting now for up to 7 years were achievable in 8 of 14 SLE patients. The Lupus Plasmapheresis Study Group (LPSG) is currently conducting a randomized international multicenter trial comparing a synchronized procedure with the administration of pulse Ctx alone. The present paper explains the rationale of synchronization and reports on the interim status of the LPSG Study.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Medical Clinic, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Euler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007277:Injections, Jet; D007391:International Cooperation; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide