title: Evidence-based review of therapeutic plasma exchange in neurological disorders.
abstract: Several neurologic disorders have been treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Case reports, case series, and clinical trials have published results regarding the outcomes in such patients. The data gathered have been used to formulate evidence-based guidelines, which can be used to guide therapy in patients with these neurological disorders. Adequately designed and powered randomized controlled trials have proven the efficacy of TPE in some disease entities, while other diseases are lacking such data. In the latter, decisions for the use of TPE must be made using the limited published data available. In this review, we discuss the published evidence regarding the use of TPE in neurological disorders, focusing on the most recent guidelines published by the American Society of Apheresis in 2010 and the American Academy of Neurology in 2011.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial Medical Center, The University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655-0002, USA. vishesh.chhibber@umassmemorial.org
authors.forename: Vishesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chhibber
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome