title: [Immunoadsorption in thrombangiitis obliterans: a promising therapeutic option: results of a consecutive patient cohort treated in clinical routine care].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombangiitis obliterans or Buerger's disease is a segmental inflammatory disease affecting small and medium-sized veins and arteries, which most often affects young smokers leading to thrombophlebitis and acral ischaemic syndromes, inducing high amputation rates. Based on positive results of a former pilot study we report on our results of immunoadsorption (IA) in clinical routine care, where IA was offered as a treatment option.
  
  
  METHODS
  The uncontrolled course of 12 consecutive TAO-patients treated by IA on a series of 5 consecutive days was observed. Follow-up period was 14.1 (ranging from 1-26) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients were treated with one, four patients completed 2 IA-series. In 9 patients an early onset and lasting clinical improvement and an improvement of ischaemia was noted. The intake of pain-relievers (especially opioids) sank drastically. Eight patients returned to work. Retrospectively, in two out of three treatment failures the correct diagnosis of TAO was questionable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IA seems to be a promising treatment option for patients suffering from TAO which should be further evaluated in controlled clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Angiologie, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Deutschland. peter.klein-weigel@helios-kliniken.de
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Klein-Weigel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Köning
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Härtwig
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutsche-Petrak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dreusicke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thieme
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Enke-Melzer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Urbach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000628:therapy; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000628:therapy*; D014034:Toes / Q000098:blood supply