Abstract
Recently, plasma exchange has been used in the treatment of immunological disorders, carcinomas and hyperviscocity syndrome.
In this paper, we describe a case of systemic lupus erythematosus who showed severe nephrotic syndrome and high levels of circulating immune complex and treated by this method successfully. With a centrifugal machine, Haemonetic Model 30 cell separator, or membrane hollow fiber plasmaflo, exchange of two liters of plasma for human fresh frozen plasma and human albumin solution was safely done.
Serum levels of circulating immune complex decreased by each plasma exchange, but returned to almost former levels next day. However, circulating immune complex decreased slowly but continuously after the patient was treated by pulse therapy and immunosupressive agents in addition to the plasma exchange therapy.
Therefore, it was suggested that repeated plasma exchange therapy with corticosteroid and immunosupressive agents may be useful to reduce levels of circulating immune complex in systemic lupus erythematosus.