Journal of clinical apheresis
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is the most common cause of fatal poisoning worldwide. Therapeutic red cell exchange (TREX) has been used in the treatment of many different diseases. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of TREX on the clinical status, outcome, and discharge of patients with severe CO poisoning. ⋯ TREX may be an alternative treatment method for reducing mortality and morbidity in cases of severe CO poisoning.
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Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease in which IgG-coated platelets are removed from circulation by the spleen, and platelet production is impaired due to increased thrombopoietin (TPO) clearance. Romiplostim, a novel TPO-mimetic agent, is approved for patients with ITP that are unresponsive to traditional treatments. However, there is little experience when using this drug before splenectomy. We describe herein the case of a young female with chronic ITP who was treated with romiplostim, underwent splenectomy shortly thereafter, and required plateletpheresis for postoperative rebound thrombocytosis with concomitant neurologic symptoms.
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In treating neuroimmunological diseases, neurologists have a number of different drugs to choose from ranging from corticosteroids to IVIg to more specific cell based therapies, the latter most frequently from the world of oncology. In some diseases, therapeutic plasma exchange, a procedure rather than a drug, is used. ⋯ In some diseases, a single course of therapeutic plasma exchange is used while in others prolonged treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange is used. This article will review the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in neurology and will draw heavily upon recent consensus statements from the American Society for Apheresis and the American Academy of Neurology and by Cochrane reviews.
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Intravascular hemolysis and resulting plasma-free hemoglobin elevation has been associated with acute kidney injury via several mechanisms. Proximal tubular injury due to iron compound deposition and nitric oxide sequestration with subsequent impairment of the microcirculation and hypoperfusion are specific adverse effects of intravascular hemolysis that may contribute to acute kidney injury. Therefore, removal of plasma-free hemoglobin and restoration of normal nitric oxide vasodilatory mechanisms may play a beneficial role in treating acute kidney injury secondary to acute intravascular hemolysis. We report herein the case of a 13-year-old patient with severe intravascular hemolysis and acute kidney injury and describe the role of plasma exchange with plasma replacement in his successful recovery.
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This article provides a concise overview of blood banking and transfusion medicine (BBTM) for the therapeutic apheresis medicine practitioner. It addresses the complete pathway from blood donor qualification to blood collection, to processing and storing blood components, to patient testing, to ordering blood components for therapeutic apheresis (TA) procedures, to preparing the component for transfusion, and finally to transfusion. The nurses, technologists, and physicians orchestrate these activities in concert to best serve patients undergoing TA procedures. Enhancing knowledge of these processes may improve the quality of patient care and the utilization of blood products.