6
plasmapheresis with removal of 50 ml of plasma per kg of body weight. Although J.
Tharakan et al. (1990) considered sufficient removal of plasma total of 10-15 ml / kg
daily until a stable effect and regression of symptoms. Another group [The French
Cooperative Group ..., 1997] prefers plasmapheresis. The same tactics are adopted and
Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology [Hughes RA
et al., 2003]. Japanese authors are of the opinion that plasmapheresis should be the
method of choice in disseminated encephalomyelitis [Yuki N. et al., 1998; Shinozaki K.
et al., 2008; Hagiwara H. et al., 2009].
Mild lesions (patients may walk more than 5 meters without assistance) is just two
sessions of plasmapheresis, with moderate (the patient is unable to stand without
support) and severe (need for mechanical ventilation) is required for 4 sessions of
plasmapheresis [Kincaid J.C., 2002; Meena A.K. et al., 2011]. The same opinion was
held by J.C. Raphael and collab. (1998), who believed that intravenous immunoglobulin
for Guillain-Barr
é
syndrome is ineffective. In such cases, there is preferred
plasmapheresis [Buzzigoli SB et al., 2010; El-Bayoumi M.A. et al., 2011; Hughes
R.A.C., 2011
; Magaña S.M.
et al. 2011]. It also describes and dramatic complication of
this therapy for Guillain-Barr
é
syndrome with intravenous immunoglobulin infusion at a
dose of 0.4 g / kg of body weight
–
the development of acute severe allergic myocarditis
with fatal outcome [Koehler PJ, Kondstaal J., 1996]. In the treatment of severe forms of
this disease in children plasma exchange is more effective, but the technical difficulties
of plasmapheresis in these patients forced to use medication immunoglobulins [Graf
WD et al., 1994]. However, recent studies show a lower efficiency of immunoglobulin
therapy compared to plasmapheresis [Dada MA, Kaplan AA, 2004; Lin CH et al., 2004].
In addition, the cost of five infusions of immunoglobulins is $ 10.329,85, while the cost
of five sessions of plasmapheresis twice less - $ 4.638,16 [Winters JL et al., 2011].
It was possible to remove autoantibodies IgG, and IgM, obtained by passing through
plasmapheresis plasma column with covalently fixed Tryptophan (immunosorption)
[Haupt WF, 2000].
Favorable results were obtained using the technique of cascade plasmapheresis
[Valbonesi M. et al., 2001]. However, when analyzing the results of the use of plasma
exchange rates (at 3 liters per session), and the cascade plasma filtration, the
advantages of the latter were not found [Lyi R.-K. et el., 2002].
Variants of Guillain-
Barré
are
Miller-Fisher syndrome and
Bickerstaff brainsten
encephalitis. Sometimes they are combined under the name Fisher-Bickerstaff
syndrome. The common feature is the appearance of IgG-antibodies to GQ1b with a
picture of ataxia, areflexia and ophthalmoplegia [Hughes RA et al., 2007; Hussain A.M.
et al, 2007; Lo YL, 2007; Yuki N., 2009; Meena AK et al., 2011]. In these cases,
plasmapheresis is also effective.
Close to Guillain-Barr
é
syndrome is a condition of acute polyneuropathy, severe
muscle weakness, which often occurs in critically ill patients requiring prolonged
7
mechanical ventilation and impede transfer of such patients to spontaneous respiration.
Electromyography shows severe acute denervation. Muscle and nerve biopsy shows a
severe neurogenic atrophy and axonal degeneration without signs of inflammation.
Such complications accompany patients with sepsis and multiple organ failure after
cardiac surgery. Provoking moments are corticosteroids and neuromuscular blockers
[Hund EF et al., 1996; Dhand U.K., 2010]. In such cases, plasmapheresis is also able to
arrest such complications because at the same time removed from the body also many
other toxic products that accumulate in critically ill patients [Algahtani H. et al., 2009].
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy also develops as a result
of auto-antibodies to gangliosides [Yuki N. et al., 1996]. The disease progresses for
more than two months, and then weakness is retained, gradually accruing for months
and years. Usually, this weakness is symmetrical, motor disturbances prevail over the
disorders of sensitivity against arefleksiya [Lopate G. et al., 1997]. In some cases,
developing
so-called
POEMS-syndrome
characterized
by
polyneuropathy,
organomegaly,
endocrinopathy,
M-protein and
skin lesions.
In the treatment also preferred is plasmapheresis (2 sessions on the first three
weeks and one session to the next three weeks). If necessary, repeat courses of
plasmapheresis may be in the next 1 or 2 months, until the disappearance of the
disease [Kincaid JC, 2002; Schröder A. et al., 2009; Gorson K.C., 2012]. Also used is
intravenous immunoglobulin (0.4 g / kg 1-3rd week and 0.2 g / kg in a 4-6-weeks). The
effects of these methods are comparable. Because immunoglobulin simpler and can be
used at home, it is preferred as the initial treatment. In terms of value, they are also
comparable. Steroids are available, but their long-term effects are more expensive. With
the combination of polyneuropathy with monoclonal gammapathy, especially IgG and
IgA type, an intensive course of plasma exchange resulted in a significant reduction in
symptoms of muscle weakness, muscle buildup of potential patients become more
mobile and return to them the ability to move independently [Dick PJ et al., 1991;
Brannagan T.H., 2009]. Plasmapheresis in this pathology has been successfully used in
pediatric practice [Rabie M., Nevo Y., 2009]. A good result was achieved after a
cascade plasmapheresis [Chiu HC et al., 1997; Hanafusa N. et al., 2007].
Chronic motor neuropathy - a slowly progressive disorder of the peripheral
nerves, which leads to an asymmetrical weakness of the distal upper extremity.
Electromyographic patterns shows focal blockade of transmission of impulses along the
motor axons. In contrast of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, this immunodependant
disease proceeds with demyelination, and treatable by plasmapheresis together with
cyclophosphamide [Kornberg AJ, Pestronk A., 1995;].
The content of IgM-antibodies to GM1-ganglioside is found in 85% of patients
[Pestronk A., Choksi R., 1997]. The pathogenesis of neuropathies can participate IgM
M-protein, often having autoantibodies activity. IgM M binds myelin-associated
glycoprotein, which leads to demyelination of peripheral nerves. Plasma exchange is