title: Patients treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) is a therapeutic procedure that is used to remove high molecular weight substances from plasma. We analyzed data of patients who received TPE during the last 7 years, and focused on the efficiency of TPE in various disease groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 110 patients treated with TPE by membrane plasma separation technique from 2007 to 2013. We examined the demographic data, underlying disease, biochemical parameters, volume and type of replacement fluid, complications, concomitant treatment, the need for hemodialysis and number of TPE sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred ten patients, 58 male, 52 female were included. The mean age was 47.3 ± 17.6 years. A total of 734 TPE sessions were performed and the mean number of TPE sessions per patient was 6.6 ± 4.3. The underlying disease was renal transplantation in 26 patients, ANCA-associated vasculitis in 18, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in 17, hemolytic uremic syndrome in 11, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in 9, autoimmunic hemolytic anemia in 6, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 6 and other diseases. Partial and complete remission was obtained in 65 (59.1%) and 24 patients (21.8%) respectively, while 14 (12.7%) patients had no response and 7 (6.4%) patients died. Complications were muscle cramps (6.4%), allergic reactions (4.5%), severe hypotension (3.6%), fever (1.8%), unconsciousness (0.9%), leukopenia (0.9%) and catheter related hematoma (0.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our 7 years of experience in TPE, we can say that therapeutic plasma exchange by membrane separation technique is a useful, easy, available and effective life-saving therapeutic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: nilaysengulsamanci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sengul Samanci
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gursu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhlis Cem
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ar
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kubra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yel
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ergen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif Ece
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Egemen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cebeci
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toptas
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Bezmialem Vakif University Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rumeyza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kazancioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000628:therapy; D056648:Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000628:therapy; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000628:therapy; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Fresh frozen plasma; Hemodiafiltration; Hemodialysis; Plasma exchange; Plasma volume