Plasma exchange versus double filtration plasmapheresis in the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Previous studies have shown that both plasma exchange (PE) and double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) are effective treatments in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Whether PE and DFPP have similar effects in GBS is not clear. This report compares the therapeutic effectiveness of PE and DFPP in GBS patients treated in 3 major hospitals in northern Taiwan. A total of 102 patients were included in this survey, including 39 with PE (hereafter PE group) and 63 with DFPP (hereafter DFPP group). Both groups showed significant improvement of disability scores after treatment. However, time to onset of effect was shorter (5.6 +/- 3.5 versus 7 +/- 3.4 days, p < 0.05), and changes of disability scores were more prominent (1.3 +/- 0.8 versus 0.8 +/- 0.8, p < 0.05) in the PE group than the DFPP group. Mortality and outcome after 6 months were not different between the 2 groups. In conclusion, both PE and DFPP are effective treatments in GBS. PE was superior to DFPP in short-term effectiveness. The long-term effectiveness was not different.
Lyu
Rong-Kuo
RK
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. lyu5172@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Chen
Wei-Hung
WH
Hsieh
Sung-Tsang
ST
D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D016896:Treatment Outcome