TREATMENT OF SEVERE LOCALIZED SCLERODERMA BY PLASMAPHERESIS - REPORT OF 3 CASES

We report three patients with severe, localized scleroderma, and with elevated titres of antinuclear antibodies, who were treated by plasmap heresis in combination with systemic steroid therapy. The therapeutic effectiveness of plasmapheresis was assessed on the basis of improveme nt in cutaneous and joint lesions, In all cases, significant improveme nt occurred after 2 months of therapy. Thus, in addition to treating s ystemic sclerosis, plasmapheresis can also be recommended for treatmen t of severe cases of localized scleroderma with elevated titres of ant inuclear antibodies and antibodies to ss-DNA.