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Potential Danger of Thrombosis after Plasma Exchange in the Treatment of Patients with Immune Disease
Author(s) -
Sultan Y.,
Bussel A.,
Maisonneuve P.,
Poupeney M.,
Sitty X.,
Gajdos P.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1979.19580059816.x
Subject(s) - plasmapheresis , medicine , coagulation , antithrombin , thrombosis , von willebrand factor , clotting factor , platelet , venous thrombosis , gastroenterology , surgery , immunology , antibody , heparin
Coagulation studies were serially performed before and after repeated plasma exchange in seven patients with myasthenia gravis. The fall in platelets and coagulation factor activities after plasmapheresis using a replacement material devoid of clotting factors was not so low that bleeding episodes were to be feared and no hemorrhages were observed. In contrast, thrombotic phenomena were suspected in two patients. Antithrombin III fell to undetectable levels in some cases. This finding associated with elevated values of factor VIII related antigen, factor VIII coagulant activity and von Willebrand factor suggested a potential danger of thrombosis in such treated patients.