THE USE OF THERAPEUTIC PLASMA-EXCHANGE FOR TREATMENT OF ACUTE POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY

The rationale for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in acute polyradic uloneuropathy (APRN) is based on the presence of circulating antibodie s which cause demyelination of the peripheral nerves. This study inclu ded 24 patients, most having a neurological defect of grade 4, classif ied into groups A and B. Group A was treated with immunosuppressive dr ugs only, while group B was treated by a combination of immunosuppress ive drugs and TPE. The average volume of plasma removed during a singl e TPE procedure was 2.95 L, and totalled 21 L overall. The efficacy of the TPE treatment was assessed on the basis of changes in the neurolo gical deficit grade, and in electrophysiological parameters. It was sh own that improvements were significantly better and faster in patients treated by a combination of immunosuppressive drugs and TPE, and when TPE was started within the first 7 days after the onset of the diseas e.