Premium
Therapeutic plasma exchange for the acute management of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: β 2 ‐glycoprotein I antibodies as a marker of response to therapy
Author(s) -
Flamholz Rachel,
Tran Thuy,
Grad Gary I.,
Mauer Ann M.,
Olopade Olufunmilayo I.,
Ellman Michael H.,
McKinsey James F.,
Jeon HyeRan,
Baron Joseph M.,
Baron Beverly W.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of clinical apheresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.697
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1098-1101
pISSN - 0733-2459
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-1101(1999)14:4<171::aid-jca3>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - medicine , catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome , therapeutic plasma exchange , fulminant , antibody , antiphospholipid syndrome , immunology , gastroenterology
We describe two patients with the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome associated with elevation of β 2 ‐glycoprotein I antibodies and fulminant thrombotic diatheses. Both patients were treated with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which resulted in a marked decrease in antibody titer accompanied by an improved clinical outcome in one patient (IgG antibody). In the second patient, the outcome was poor despite TPE (IgA antibody). There were no significant complications of TPE in either case. Because of the fulminant nature of the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, we conclude that a trial of TPE is warranted for the acute management. Further studies are needed to clarify which patients may benefit from this treatment. J. Clin. Apheresis 14:171–176, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.