title: Therapeutic apheresis exchange in two patients with prolidase deficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolidase deficiency is a rare genetic disorder for which a cure has not yet been found.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of apheresis exchange as a new therapeutic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Apheresis exchanges were repeated monthly for four consecutive months, in parallel, on two patients, replacing prolidase-deficient red blood cells with normal filtered cells. Prolidase activity and urinary dipeptides were determined at regular intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The constant presence of active prolidase inside cells allowed a continuous, although partial, degradation of imidodipeptides, with a concomitant improvement of skin ulceration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apheresis exchange could be a reasonable way of obtaining a clinical improvement in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry A.Castellani, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 3/B, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lupi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertazzoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annovazzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viglio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cetta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iadarola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004150:Dipeptidases / Q000172:deficiency*; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004150:Dipeptidases; C022449:proline dipeptidase