14 years of therapeutic plasma exchange in France.

ABSTRACT

The French Registry for plasma exchange (PE) was set up in 1985. For 14 years it has allowed analysis of the techniques used along with the indications and complications. Recent analysis shows a slight fall in activity as some studies have ended, while the neurological disorders remain the most frequent indications for PE. The important changes observed over the years are the increased use of the centrifugation technique, the development of plasma and whole blood treatment and plasma substitution using a mixture of albumin and pentastarch. The French Registry for PE is the largest such database which, along with the Canadian Registry for therapeutic hemapheresis, allows both retrospective and prospective studies.