A short-term functional recovery comparison of therapeutic plasma exchange and immunoadsorption in severe acute neuroimmune diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differential impact of recombinant protein A immunoadsorption (PAIA) or therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) on neurological functional improvement and quality of life in patients afflicted with severe acute neuroimmune diseases, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), myasthenia gravis (MG), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARE). METHODS: The retrospective study included 29 patients with moderate to severe disability (modified Rankin scale, mRS≥3) due to acute neuroimmune diseases at the second Xiangya hospital from January 2021 to January 2023. The clinical efficacy of PAIA and TPE in improving neurological function (ΔmRS≥1) and the difference in favorable functional outcomes (mRS 0-2) at three months were evaluated. The impact of both treatments on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using a visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) score ranging from 0 to 100. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the PAIA group exhibited a significantly higher rate of improvement in modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores (ΔmRS≥1) at the three-month follow-up compared to the TPE group (94.4 % vs. 54.5 %, p = 0.018). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two treatment modalities in terms of favorable neurological functional outcomes at the three-month mark. Furthermore, the PAIA group demonstrated a significantly higher EQ-VAS score at 14 days post-treatment compared to the TPE group (60.0 vs. 47.7, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: In the short-term management of severe acute neuroimmune diseases, PAIA may present a greater probability of improving neurological function and facilitating an earlier enhancement of quality of life compared to TPE.

Evaluating Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Pediatric Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by brain and spinal cord inflammation. In pediatric patients, ADEM presents unique challenges due to its potential for rapid progression and long-term neurological sequelae. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has emerged as a potential treatment option by targeting the underlying autoimmune process and modulating the inflammatory response. This comprehensive review evaluates the role of TPE in pediatric ADEM, synthesizing evidence from clinical studies and providing insights into its efficacy, safety, and potential benefits. The review highlights the variability in TPE efficacy based on disease severity and patient-specific factors. Implications for clinical practice include considering TPE as a therapeutic option, particularly in severe or refractory cases, and emphasizing the importance of early intervention. Recommendations for future research include long-term prospective studies, comparative effectiveness trials, and efforts to standardize TPE protocols. Overall, continued investigation and innovation in managing pediatric ADEM are essential for improving outcomes and quality of life for affected children and their families.

A simple predictor for donor-specific anti-HLA antibody desensitisation in haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Donor-specific HLA antibody (DSA) has been recognised as an independent risk factor for graft failure in patients undergoing haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HID HSCT). Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), as a first-line strategy for DSA desensitisation, can promptly reduce serum DSA levels. This study aimed to investigate DSA characteristics and identify a biomarker predicting the efficacy of DSA desensitisation in patients proceeding to HID HSCT. We retrospectively enrolled 32 patients with DSA from April 2021 to January 2024, and analysed the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) value of DSA at the different time points of desensitisation treatment. Compared with baseline DSA level before TPE, the median MFI of HLA class I DSA was reduced from 8178.6 to 795.3 (p < 0.001), and HLA class II DSA decreased from 6210.9 to 808.8 (p < 0.001) after TPE. The DSA level in 1:16 diluted pre-TPE serum correlated well with DSA value in post-TPE serum (class I, r = 0.85, p < 0.0001; class II, r = 0.94, p < 0.0001), predicting TPE efficacy in 84.4% of patients. Based on the degree of DSA reduction after TPE, patients were divided into complete responders (decreased by >70%), partial responders (decreased by 30 to 70%) and non-responders (decreased by <30%) and the percentages were 43.8%, 25% and 31.2%, respectively. Non-responders receiving aggressive immunotherapy had longer overall survival compared to those receiving standard strategies (p < 0.05). The 1:16 diluted pre-TPE serum may predict the efficacy of TPE and allow for more rational immunotherapy strategy for patients with DSA proceeding to HID HSCT.

A rare case of acute cerebellitis due to enterovirus treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Acute cerebellitis is a rare complication of pediatric infections. There are many reports that viral infections lead to neurological manifestations, including acute cerebellitis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for pediatric patients diagnosed with enterovirus cerebellitis between 2000 and 2024. The methods involved reviewing clinical and radiological records and assessing the treatment methods. RESULTS: Case Report We present the case of a 4-year-old immunocompetent child who initially presented with acute encephalopathy followed by truncal ataxia, and eventually received a diagnosis of postinfectious cerebellitis. Enterovirus real-time polymerase chain reaction were positive in the nasopharyngeal swab. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was started due to neurological deterioration despite IVIG treatment. She improved significantly with TPE, and methylprednisolone treatment and was discharged in good health status. The patient is being followed up as neurologically normal. CONCLUSION: Acute cerebellitis associated with enterovirus is a rare pediatric disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment with TPE in this severe case is thought to be preventive for the potentially fatal complications.

The Role of Plasmapheresis in Severe Leptospirosis Refractory to Standard Therapy: A Case Report and a Comprehensive Literature Review.

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic infection prevalent in Pakistan, presents diverse clinical manifestations ranging from mild flu-like symptoms to severe multiorgan failure known as Weil's disease. This case study reports on a 24-year-old woman with leptospirosis complicated by acute kidney injury and hyperbilirubinemia, unresponsive to standard therapies. Despite initial treatment with antibiotics and hemodialysis, her condition deteriorated. Following a single session of plasmapheresis, marked clinical and laboratory improvements were observed. Notably, plasma exchange effectively reduced bilirubin levels, underscoring its potential benefit in severe leptospirosis. This case highlights the role of plasmapheresis as rescue therapy in critically ill patients, demonstrating significant outcomes in cases resistant to conventional management. Further research is warranted to refine guidelines on the optimal timing and frequency of plasma exchange in such settings.

Beneficial therapeutic plasma exchange response in the treatment of severe relapses in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Therapeutic plasma exchange (PLEX) is effective as a second-line treatment of severe relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) that failed to respond to standard steroid therapy. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of PLEX in the severe MS relapses in a cohort of patients treated at Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, from 2007 until 2020. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 107 MS patients with 127 severe relapses treated with PLEX. Majority of our patients suffered from relapsing remitting MS (83.2%), 12.1% had secondary progressive MS and 4.7% had primary progressive MS. Mean age was 39.2 years (range, 19-79 years), female/male ratio 2.3:1. Pulse corticosteroid treatment was used before PLEX in 99.3% of patients. Median EDSS score at nadire during relapse was 6.0 (range 2.0-10.0). After PLEX, 73.8% relapses showed a marked clinical improvement, 7.1% showed mild improvement and in 19.0% there was no improvement. Median EDSS at discharge was 4.0 (6.0 at nadir of relapse vs. 4.0 at discharge; p<0.0001) and it was sustained at the same level, 6 month after PLEX. Multivariate regression analysis showed that higher EDSS at nadir during relapse (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.41-0.96, p=0.039) and older age (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.02- 1.12, p=0.010) were significantly associated with poor treatment response after 6- month follow-up. Adverse events occurred in 17.3 of procedures and they were completely resolved. CONCLUSION: Our study in a large cohort of MS patients confirmed that PLEX is effective.

Evaluation of the results of the patients who underwent plasmapheresis in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Background/aim: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal treatment method that removes large molecular weight substances from plasma. In our study, we aimed to retrospectively examine the indications and procedural methods of the patients who had undergone TPE, and the complications that occurred during the procedure. Materials and methods: Forty-one patients who were monitored in thePICU of Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital and had indications for TPE between 2017 and 2021 were included in the study. Laboratory parameters were checked before and after the TPE procedure. In addition to these, patients' diagnosis, weight, type of procedure and type of device, where the procedure was performed, duration of the procedure, amount of blood and plasma processed, complications, number of procedures, and death during the procedure or independent of the procedure were evaluated. Results: The median age was 93.0 (14.0-167.0) months. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) was the most common TPE indication with nine patients. The most common complication related to TPE was fever (11 patients), while no complication was observed in 18 patients.When laboratory results were evaluated according to American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) categories, a significant improvement was observed in the values of platelet, AST, ALT, LDH, urea, and creatinine in ASFA1 after TPE. No significant improvement was observed in ASFA2 (p > 0.05). In ASFA3, a significant improvement was observed in INR, AST, ALT, LDH, total bilirubin, creatinine, pH, and lactate values after TPE (p < 0.05). Five patients died from ASFA1, one from ASFA2, and three patients from ASFA3. Conclusion: Since significant adjustments are observed in clinical and laboratory values in sepsis-MOF, which is in the ASFA3 category, we believe that it should be evaluated in the ASFA2 or ASFA1 category in the early treatment of these diseases. In addition, we think that MIS-C cases, which have not been in any category according to ASFA, should be included in the ASFA2 or ASFA3 category, considering our TPE results.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in autoimmune neurological disorders: A comprehensive evaluation of clinical outcomes, safety, and long-term disability using the modified Rankin scale.

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune neurological diseases (ANDs) involve the immune system attacking the nervous system, leading to various symptoms. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used to remove pathogenic autoantibodies, aiming to improve clinical outcomes. METHODS: This ambispective observational study included 99 patients with ANDs who underwent TPE from January 2018 to June 2022 at a tertiary care center in India. Clinical outcomes were measured using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at admission, post-TPE, at 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year follow-up post-discharge. Data were analyzed using Epi Info version 7.0. RESULTS: The median mRS score improved significantly from 5 (IQR 4-5) before TPE to 3 (IQR 2-4) post-TPE (p < 0.001). Complications occurred in 5.95% of procedures, with allergic reactions being the most common. The in-hospital mortality rate was 9%. CONCLUSION: TPE is a safe and effective treatment modality for autoimmune neurological diseases, especially in resource-constrained settings. It aids in both symptomatic relief and reducing long-term functional disability.

Bloodstream infections among patients receiving therapeutic plasma exchanges in the intensive care unit: a 10 year multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic plasma exchanges (TPE), which affect the humoral response, are often performed in combination with immunosuppressive drugs. For this reason, TPE may be associated with an increased susceptibility to infections. We aimed to describe blood stream infection (BSI) incidence in ICU patients treated with TPE and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively included patients that had received at least one session of TPE in the ICU of one of the 4 participating centers (all in Paris, France) between January 1st 2010 and December 31th 2019. Patients presenting with a BSI during ICU stay were compared to patients without such an infection. Risk factors for BSI were identified by a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Over 10 years in the 4 ICUs, 387 patients were included, with a median of 5 [2-7] TPE sessions per patient. Most frequent indications for TPE were thrombotic microangiopathy (47%), central nervous system inflammatory disorders (11%), hyperviscosity syndrome (11%) and ANCA associated vasculitis (8.5%). Thirty-one patients (8%) presented with a BSI during their ICU stay, a median of 7 [3-11] days after start of TPE. In a multivariate logistic regression model, diabetes (OR 3.32 [1.21-8.32]) and total number of TPE sessions (OR 1.14 [1.08-1.20]) were independent risk factors for BSI. There was no difference between TPE catheter infection related BSI (n = 11 (35%)) and other sources of BSI (n = 20 (65%)) regarding catheter insertion site (p = 0.458) or rate of TPE catheter related deep vein thrombosis (p = 0.601). ICU course was severe in patients presenting with BSI when compared to patients without BSI, with higher need for mechanical ventilation (45% vs 18%, p = 0.001), renal replacement therapy (42% vs 20%, p = 0.011), vasopressors (32% vs 12%, p = 0.004) and a higher mortality (19% vs 5%, p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Blood stream infections are frequent in patients receiving TPE in the ICU, and are associated with a severe ICU course. Vigilant monitoring is crucial particularly for patients receiving a high number of TPE sessions.

The history of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura research: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but debilitating thrombotic microangiopathy that results from severe deficiency of the enzyme ADAMTS13. The disorder was first described in the early 20th century, but the pathophysiology of the disease has only been elucidated in the past three decades. In this narrative review, we will summarize the milestone moments in the history of TTP research and discovery. Methods: We searched literature using PubMed from 1924 to 2023 using the following free text searches: "thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura", "Moschcowitz disease", and "thrombotic microangiopathy". We found 6,917 peer-reviewed articles and sorted through these for relevant literature pertinent to the review. A total of 46 articles were included for review and the remainder were excluded. Key Content and Findings: The history of TTP research was reviewed, with a sampling of major events in the evolution of the understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of the disease discussed here. There remains much to be learned about the nature of the disease in order to develop more specific and less harmful treatments. Conclusions: An overview of the major discoveries that have led to our current understanding of TTP reveals the results of collaboration of multiple groups of physicians and scientists through the past century, with additional breakthroughs likely to occur in the future because of that same collaborative spirit.

Treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia through therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with acute pancreatitis or at risk of developing it. / Tratamiento de la hipertrigliceridemia grave mediante recambio plasmático terapéutico en pacientes con pancreatitis aguda o en riesgo de padecerla.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: TPE drastically reduces serum triglyceride (sTG), but its role in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) or at risk of developing it, is not well established. The objectives were to assess the effectiveness and safety of TPE in the treatment of severe HTG (sHTG), as well as to evaluate the severity of HTG-AP treated with TPE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational-retrospective-single-center study, in which a descriptive analysis of sHTG treated with TPE was conducted, with the aim of treating HTG-AP or preventing its recurrence. TPE was performed if sTG≥ 1000 mg/dL after 24 hours of admission. RESULTS: 42 TPE were performed to treat 35 sHTG in 23 patients: 29 HTG-AP, and 6 sHTG with previous HTG-AP. Among the patients, 37% (13/55) were women, with 37 ± 14 years-old, 74.3% had normal BMI (25/35), 34% (12/35) were drinking > 40 g/alcohol/day and 54% (19/35) were diabetics. TPE significantly reduced the baseline sTG (4425 ± 2782 mg/dL vs. 709 ± 353 mg/dL, p < 0.001) in a single session, achieving a mean percentage reduction of 79 ± 13%; 20% (7/35) of sHTG cases required two TPE sessions to reduce sTG to < 1000 mg/dL. Adverse effects were reported in 4/42 TPE sessions (9,5%). sHTG-AP was observed in 3% of cases (1/29), and there were no deaths. sTG at 24 hours of admission showed no relation with the severity of APs. CONCLUSION: The treatment of sHTG with TPE, with the aim of treating HTG-AP or preventing its recurrence, reduces sTG quickly and safety.

Role of plasma exchange in a post-partum case of severe thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with acute kidney injury.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disease present with the classic pentad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), fever, neurologic changes, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction. In a diagnostic dilemma, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a choice of life-saving intervention. In this, we assess the efficacy of TPE in a suspected case of post-partum TTP. A 27 years old female was admitted in an emergency on day 8 after a lower segment cesarian section (LSCS) with unresponsive behavior for 3 days and with TTP. She was normal 32 days back with her second, 7-month pregnancy. Ultrasonography (USG) showed an umbilical cord around the neck of the baby. On the fifth post-operative day, she was shifted to emergency with fever, generalized anasarca, gastrointestinal tract (GI) bleeding, low platelet count, and low Hb, with a poor Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 6. On the bases of serum urea and serum creatinine, she presented acute kidney injury with encephalopathy. At emergency, she was unresponsive to mechanical ventilation and supportive treatment; hence, therapeutic plasma exchange was performed. After eight TPE cycles, the patient presented with an improved hematological and renal profile with good GCS. TPE is helpful and life-saving for suspected TTP patients with AKI.

Enhancing Survival in Septic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Plasma Exchange Therapy.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's immune response to infection becomes unregulated, causing organ dysfunction and a heightened risk of mortality. Despite increased awareness campaigns, its prevalence escalates, annually afflicting over 1.7 million adults in the United States. This research explores the potential of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in septic shock management, aiming to highlight its capacity to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, our comprehensive search across 51,534 studies, using keywords such as plasmapheresis, plasma exchange therapy, therapeutic plasma exchange, septic shock, and reduction in mortality integrated with medical subject headings terms, led to the meticulous selection of six pivotal studies. Through rigorous evaluation with tools such as the revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and Assessment of Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews, we extracted strong evidence supporting TPE's significant impact on decreasing mortality in septic shock patients compared to standard care, as demonstrated in three randomized controlled trials and one cohort study, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.43 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.26-0.72). Additionally, two meta-analyses further validate TPE's effectiveness, showing a mortality reduction with an OR of 0.30 (95% CI = 0.20-0.46). This advantage also extends to critically ill COVID-19 patients, underscoring TPE's crucial role in modulating the coagulation cascade, decreasing sepsis-related complications, and reducing the risk of bleeding and organ failure. Nevertheless, the benefits of TPE must be carefully balanced against potential risks such as hypocalcemia, hypotension, and citrate toxicity, especially in patients with underlying renal or liver issues, emphasizing the importance of shared decision-making. While TPE emerges as a promising therapy, its formal integration into standard care protocols awaits further confirmation, highlighting the critical need for more in-depth research to conclusively determine its efficacy and safety in septic shock management.

Comparative analysis of therapeutic plasma exchange vs. standard management in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis: triglyceride reduction and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTGP) remains controversial in the literature. This study compared the clinical outcomes of TPE versus conventional therapy in patients with HTGP. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with HTGP were included. Patients were retrospectively compared in pairs: those who received TPE treatment and those who did not, those whose triglyceride level fell below 500 mg/dL within 48 h, and those who did not, those with and without persistent organ failure. The primary outcome was the percentage of triglyceride reduction within 48 h. Secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay, mortality, cost-effectiveness, and persistent organ failure. RESULTS: Percentage decrease in triglyceride levels, medical hospitalization costs, and length of hospital stay were higher in the TPE group compared to the non-TPE group (p < 0.05, for each). However, there was no difference regarding persistent organ failure and mortality (p > 0.05, for each). The length of hospital stay, average cost, persistent organ failure, and mortality were similar in both groups whose triglyceride level fell below 500 mg/dL within 48 h and those who did not (p > 0.05, for each). Among patients with persistent organ failure, average cost was higher in the TPE group compared to the non-TPE group (p < 0.05). An independent relation was found between the average cost and persistent organ failure, TPE, length of hospital stay, albumin, and urea values in all patients (p < 0.05, for each). CONCLUSIONS: The approach of using TPE for treatment of HTGP was not found to be superior to the conventional treatment. Randomized controlled studies with larger number of patients are needed to gain better understanding of this issue.

Outcomes of therapeutic plasma exchange for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma cast nephropathy.

Current treatment guidelines of myeloma cast nephropathy (MCN) recommend the institution of plasma cell-directed therapy and consideration of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), with the goal of rapid reduction of the serum free light chain (sFLC). However, the role of TPE continues to remain a subject of debate. The goal of this retrospective bi-institutional study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of TPE in combination with systemic therapy. Eighty patients were included in this analysis, of whom 72.5% had ≥50% drop in their initial involved sFLC. At 3 months from TPE initiation, the overall hematologic response rate (ORR) was 67.5% with a very good partial response or better (≥VGPR) rate of 40%. At 6 months, ORR was 57.5%, with ≥VGPR rate of 49%. The renal response rate at 3 and 6 months was 47.5% and 43.75%, respectively; the overall renal response rate was 48.75%. On multivariable analysis, every one unit increase in baseline creatinine (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, p = 0.006), and achievement of ≥VGPR (OR 21.7 p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with renal response. Also, a ≥50% drop in sFLC was favorably associated with renal response (OR 3.39, p = 0.09). With a median follow-up of 36.4 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 11 months. On multivariable analysis, achievement of renal response (hazard ratio [HR] 0.3, p < 0.0001) and newly diagnosed disease (NDMM; HR 0.43, p = 0.0055) were associated with improved OS. Among NDMM patients, those treated with daratumumab-based regimens had a trend for better OS (p = 0.15), compared to other regimens, but the difference was not significant. At the end of follow-up, an estimated 40.4% of patients who were on dialysis were able to become dialysis independent. In conclusion, our study highlights the poor survival of patients with MCN. Achievement of early renal response is crucial for prolonged OS, with daratumumab-based therapies showing promise.

Blood-based therapies to combat neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegeneration, known as the progressive loss of neurons in terms of their structure and function, is the principal pathophysiological change found in the majority of brain-related disorders. Ageing has been considered the most well-established risk factor in most common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is currently no effective treatment or cure for these diseases; the approved therapeutic options to date are only for palliative care. Ageing and neurodegenerative diseases are closely intertwined; reversing the aspects of brain ageing could theoretically mitigate age-related neurodegeneration. Ever since the regenerative properties of young blood on aged tissues came to light, substantial efforts have been focused on identifying and characterizing the circulating factors in the young and old systemic milieu that may attenuate or accentuate brain ageing and neurodegeneration. Later studies discovered the superiority of old plasma dilution in tissue rejuvenation, which is achieved through a molecular reset of the systemic proteome. These findings supported the use of therapeutic blood exchange for the treatment of degenerative diseases in older individuals. The first objective of this article is to explore the rejuvenating properties of blood-based therapies in the ageing brains and their therapeutic effects on AD. Then, we also look into the clinical applications, various limitations, and challenges associated with blood-based therapies for AD patients.

Complications of therapeutic plasma exchange: A retrospective, single-center study of 2505 procedures performed in 338 patients over 15 years.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) may involve complications. We aimed to review the demographic data, indications, technical information, and complications. METHODS: Data for TPE procedures (TPEPs) performed between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively. RESULTS: This study covered 2505 TPEPs performed on 338 patients; 55% of them were female (n = 186), and the median age was 36 years (range, 11-93 years). Most TPEPs were administered for hematological (40.6%) indications. The incidence of complications on the first procedure was 3.2% (n = 80); only 16 procedures (0.6%) were failed. The complication incidence was 19.8% (n = 497), with 789 total complications. Most of the complications were patient-related (90.4%), and the most of them were urticaria (29.1%), occlusion (3.2%), and faulty systems (1.01%), respectively. The use of only fresh frozen plasma as replacement fluid caused a higher complication rate (22.1%, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The number of TPEPs is increasing every day. Hematologic indications for TPE and the use of fresh frozen plasma may increase the risk of complications.

Severe amlodipine toxicity: A medical dilemma managed with therapeutic plasma exchange.

Amlodipine poisoning is a nightmare for treating clinicians because of the intractable hypotension and bradycardia induced by the drug, which requires a balanced treatment algorithm. We encountered a case of severe Amlodipine toxicity (450 mg) who presented with complaints of nausea, multiple episodes of vomiting, and chest discomfort. On arrival at the EMD, the patient had significant hypotension (80/46 mmHg), bradycardia (40 beats/min), and a fall in oxygen saturation (75 %). He was symptomatically managed with inotropes, IV calcium, IV fluids, and oxygen supplementation. We decided to go forward with Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) in an attempt to remove the inciting agent. Two sessions of TPE were performed and the patient showed significant improvement post-procedure which led to the discharge of the patient within 10 days of admission. This case report highlights the noteworthiness of TPE in treating significantly high doses of drug poisoning.