Journal of clinical apheresis
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Comparative Study
Mononuclear cell collection for extracorporeal photopheresis: Concentrate characteristics for off-line UV-A irradiation procedure.
Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is the most represented cell therapy for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, graft-versus host disease and organ rejection. We analyzed our experience in ECP using 2 cell separators (Cobe Spectra and Spectra Optia) focusing on leukapheretic product characteristics, UV-A irradiation procedure and entire ECP process. ⋯ Our study confirms good results for both cell separators. Blood volume processed being equal, Cobe collects a number of total nucleated cells significantly higher than Optia. Optia, collecting only target cells without significant erythrocytes, granulocytes and platelets contamination, is able to collect a leukapheretic product particularly suitable for ECP.
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Case Reports
Therapeutic plasma exchange for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with refractory thrombocytopenia.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an acute, life-threatening illness with disseminated platelet-rich thromboses of small vessels that variably presents with the classic clinical "pentad" of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, altered mental status, and acute kidney injury. Most cases are caused by an acquired autoantibody to ADAMTS13, a metalloproteinase that cleaves large von Willebrand Factor (vWF) multimers. ⋯ Unfortunately, there is no clear guidance for when thrombocytopenia is refractory for a prolonged period of time. The following case describes such a scenario in which consecutive ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitor levels were used to guide the decision to stop treatment with TPE in a patient who failed to recover their platelet count.