Therapeutic plasma exchange for the acute management of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies as a marker of response to therapy
R. Flamholz et al., Therapeutic plasma exchange for the acute management of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies as a marker of response to therapy, J CLIN APH, 14(4), 1999, pp. 171-176
We describe two patients with the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome as
sociated with elevation of beta(2)-glycoprotein I antibodies and fulminant
thrombotic diatheses. Both patients were treated with therapeutic plasma ex
change (TPE), which resulted in a marked decrease in antibody titer accompa
nied by an improved clinical outcome in one patient (IgG antibody). In the
second patient, the outcome was poor despite TPE (IgA antibody). There were
no significant complications of TPE in either case. Because of the fulmina
nt nature of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, we conclude that a
trial of TPE is warranted for the acute management. Further studies are ne
eded to clarify which patients may benefit from this treatment. J. Clin. Ap
heresis 14:171-176, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.