Rheopheresis in vascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
Endothelial dysfunction is a common condition in many microvascular diseases, such as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease (PAOD). Rheopheresis therapy improves ematic viscosity, shear stress and endothelial function while decreasing fibrinogen, LDL-cholesterol and alpha-2-macroglobulin levels.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of rheopheresis in patients with microcirculatory diseases.


METHODS
Eight patients (7 male and 1 female) were treated with rheopheresis: 3 males were affected by AMD, 4 male and 1 female by uremia and PAOD. We used Membrane Differential Filtration (MDF) with an ethinylvinyl alcohol copolymer membrane as plasmafiltrator. Patients with AMD were treated once a week for ten weeks. Patients affected with PAOD were treated twice weekly for 3 weeks and then were placed on a once-a-week program.


RESULTS
In all treated patients with AMD, visual acuity improved. In all patients affected with PAOD, we observed a complete resolution of pain; 3 out of 5 had a complete remission of ulcers. There was partial reduction of ulcers in the other patients and no adverse effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Rheopheresis is a safe, effective form of hemorheotherapy.
Ferrannini
M
M
Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. m.ferrannini@inwind.it
Vischini
G
G
Staffolani
E
E
Scaccia
F
F
Miani
N
N
Parravano
M C
MC
Louis
M M
MM
Splendiani
G
G
Di Daniele
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy*