1. [Plasmapheresis in extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease].
- Author
-
Dittrich C, Graninger W, Lenzhofer R, Lochs H, and Abel-Telkes B
- Subjects
- Adult, Antigen-Antibody Complex analysis, Arthritis etiology, C-Reactive Protein immunology, Complement C4 immunology, Erythema Nodosum etiology, Erythema Nodosum therapy, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin G immunology, Immunoglobulin M immunology, Lipoproteins, LDL immunology, Male, Middle Aged, Prealbumin immunology, Pyoderma etiology, Pyoderma therapy, Uveitis, Anterior etiology, Uveitis, Anterior therapy, alpha 1-Antitrypsin immunology, Arthritis therapy, Crohn Disease complications, Plasmapheresis
- Abstract
An assessment was undertaken of the value of plasmapheresis in patients with circulating immune complexes and/or extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (arthritis, iridocyclitis, erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, stomatitis, fever). In 17 patients aged 20 to 50 years (median 34 years) 46 plasmaphereses were performed using a continuous flow-cell separator. Before and after plasmaphereses the concentrations of circulating immune complexes, of complement C4, of the immunoglobulins IgG and IgM and of the proteins alpha-1-antitrypsin, CRP, prealbumin and beta-lipoprotein were determined. 71% of patients given plasmaphereses showed clinical remission of the extraintestinal manifestations and 85% demonstrated a reduction of circulating immune complexes. Clinical follow-up of the patients was documented by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), which was reduced by plasmaphereses to a highly significant degree (p less than 0.005). For patients displaying an acute phase of Crohn's disease with extraintestinal manifestations and/or circulating immune complexes plasmapheresis represents an effective mode of therapy, which, moreover, lacks serious side effects.
- Published
- 1984