title: Effects of cascade apheresis in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthropathy.
abstract: Eight patients with psoriasis, all with skin scales and 7 with disabling psoriatic arthritis, were subjected to cascade apheresis starting with three treatments per week for 2 weeks, followed by one treatment a week, comprising ten treatments in all. Six out of 7 patients (86%) with arthropathy and 3 out of 8 patients (38%) with scales experienced a beneficial effect. There was a large drop in the levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) due to the treatment, and the removal of CIC was followed by reduced inflammatory activity in skin lesions and joints as evaluated by pain, morning stiffness, grip strength, plaque score, and PASI index. However, there was no correlation between the level of CIC, disease activity, or treatment response. From the present results it is concluded that CIC may play a more significant role regarding psoriatic arthropathy than in skin manifestations, and apheresis may be beneficial in patients not responding to conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. storker.jorstad@medisin-ntnu.no
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jørstad
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lysvand
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fjaertoft
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Widerøe
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rødsjø
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naess
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolsø
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kvaernes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex