Journal of clinical apheresis
-
Review Case Reports
Adjunct therapeutic plasma exchange for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis: a case report and review of literature.
Encephalitis associated with autoantibodies directed against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is usually a paraneoplastic syndrome that presents in young females with ovarian teratomas. We report a case of a previously healthy 14-year-old girl with sudden-onset paranoia, hallucinations, hyperactivity, increased speech, decreased sleep, seizures, and violent behavior deteriorating to catatonia. Her cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies. ⋯ The American Society for Apheresis assigns a Category III (Grade 2C) recommendation for TPE in paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes; however, apheresis specifically for anti-NMDAR encephalitis has not been well studied. Literature review revealed two case reports describing outstanding improvement in patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis following TPE. We report no improvement in our patient's symptoms after plasma exchange and discuss possible reasons for why it failed along with review of the literature.
-
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) encephalitis is thought to be one of the common paraneoplastic-associated encephalitides. Between February 2001 and February 2011, nine patients were diagnosed with this disorder at Columbia University Medical Center: eight females (mean age 23 years) and one male (3 years of age). Four female patients had ovarian teratomas, which were removed as part of their treatment. ⋯ However, the number of patients in this series is too small to provide statistically significant conclusions. Overall, TPE is a relatively safe treatment option in patients with anti-NMDA-R encephalitis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the benefit of TPE in this disease.
-
Exchange transfusion is frequently used as an adjunctive treatment of severe malaria, although the efficacy of exchange transfusion as therapy for severe malaria remains controversial. The major perceived benefit of exchange transfusion is the rapid reduction of parasite load. However, no previous report has shown the dynamic change in parasitemia shortly following an acute load reduction. ⋯ The second procedure was performed 12 h after the first procedure. Her neurologic status returned to baseline on Day 2, and she was discharged on Day 6. Rapid increases in parasitemia can be observed after mechanical load reduction following RCX.