title: Treatment with plasma exchange may serve benefical effect in patients with severe hyperbilirubinemia: a single center experience.
abstract: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common clinical manifestation, and may be life threatening. Many diseases result in hyperbilirubinemias, some are refractory, and cannot be cured by medication or surgery. Plasma exchange (PE) for hyperbilirubinemia is not a pathogenesis oriented therapy but strives for the opportunity to cure. In the present study, we aimed to present the outcomes of treatment of hyperbilirubinemia with PE in patients with various disorders. Eleven patients who underwent PE due to hyperbilirubinemia between 2006 and 2012 in Apheresis Unit of Erciyes University, were retrospectively reviewed. After PE, we observed a marked decline in total and direct bilirubin levels. The decline in the biochemical values were statically significant (p<0.003). Both total and direct bilirubin levels remained above the normal limits in one of 11 patients. PE should be considered as an effective and safe option in cases with hyperbilirubinemia, and this procedure can improve survival in patients with sufficient residual capacity of liver regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University, Department of Hematology, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. muzafferkeklik@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keklik
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivgin
authors.forename: Leylagul
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaynar
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solmaz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eser
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000628:therapy*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin