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  1. Rattanathamsakul N, Siritho S, Viswanathan S, Hiew FL, Apiwattanakul M, Tan K, et al.
    J Clin Apher, 2023 Aug;38(4):437-446.
    PMID: 36896493 DOI: 10.1002/jca.22047
    INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for neuroimmunological disorders has played an important role in the Southeast Asian region. This study investigates the challenges of performing TPE within the region.

    METHOD: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted and launched to 15 South East Asian Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Consortium (SEATPEC) members from seven countries in January 2021. It included demographics, TPE techniques, indications, challenges, timing, outcome measurement, and access to laboratory testing in each local center.

    RESULTS: A total of 15 neurologists from 12 participating centers were included. They usually perform five sessions of TPE (100.0%), with 1 to 1.5 plasma volume (93.3%), and exchanges via the central catheter (100.0%). Acute relapses of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and myasthenia gravis are the most common indications. They used a combination of normal saline and 5% albumin (60.0%) as replacement fluid. Most (66.7%) used TPE as an add-on treatment in steroid-refractory cases or as first-line treatment for severe attacks. They suggested assessing the TPE efficacy of TPE by the interval to the next attack, post-TPE relapse rates, and TPE-related complications. The major challenges within our region are expense, reimbursibility, and access to TPE.

    CONCLUSION: Although countrywise differences exist, all share similarities regarding methods, indications, timing, obstacles, and challenges of TPE for neuroimmunological conditions. Regional collaboration will be essential to identify strategies to reduce these barriers to access to TPE in the future.

    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  2. Loo CY, Mohamed Said MS, Mohd R, Abdul Gafor AH, Saidin R, Halim NA, et al.
    Transfus Apher Sci, 2010 Dec;43(3):335-40.
    PMID: 21051293 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2010.10.003
    This was a prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of immunoadsorption (IA) versus conventional PP (PP) as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of severe lupus nephritis (LN). Of 28 patients with biopsy-proven severe LN (ISN/RPS classes III or IV ± V), 14 underwent 36 sessions of PP and the other 41 sessions of IA in addition to our center's standard LN treatment protocol. Three patients in the PP group and 2 in the IA group experienced a transient, marked drop in platelets with the second session. Except for a higher pre treatment mean SLEDAI score in the PP group 17.4 ± 2.0 vs. 13.5 ± 4.8; p = 0.009 and a serum creatinine of 163 ± 7.9 vs. 81.7 ± 10.2; p = 0.33, there were no other baseline differences. Some differences did exist between the two therapies in the immediate post-treatment phase, at 1 and 3 months. Three in IA relapsed, none of PP in third months, whereas two patients relapsed in the PP and none of IA cohorts at 6 months. However, most of these parameters did not differ by 6 months. The pre- and post-therapy SLEDAI scores remained different 12.4 ± 4.5 vs. 9 ± 4; p = 0.04 at 1 month, and at 3 month 13.5 ± 4.7 vs. 7.7 ± 1.1; p = 0.012 but not at 6 months. We conclude that IA and PP were equally well tolerated and efficacious as adjunctive therapy for severe LN.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis*
  3. Viswanathan S, Hung SKY, Goyal V, Apiwattanakul M, Thirugnanam UN, Abdullah S, et al.
    J Clin Apher, 2018 Oct;33(5):559-568.
    PMID: 29626354 DOI: 10.1002/jca.21630
    In December 2017, 79 delegates attended the 2nd regional plasmapheresis conference and workshop for Southeast Asia (SEA) on the immunomodulatory role of plasma exchange in central and peripheral nervous system disorders in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This meeting featured 6 plenary lectures, interactive sessions dedicated for experience sharing, case presentations, and a practical session for paramedics. Clinical experts and researchers from 7 SEA countries and India shared experience and challenges in treating autoimmune neurological disorders. While the spectrum of diseases and neurology practice remained largely similar, there was great disparities in accessibility of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) within SEA countries and between urban or rural settings. Costs, human resources, and healthcare policies are common challenges in providing sustainable TPE services. Novel techniques and innovative ideas in performing TPE were explored. A working consortium comprising of key opinion leaders was proposed to improve standards of TPE and enhance future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis/methods*
  4. Cheah JM, Ng D, Low MY, Foo SH
    J ASEAN Fed Endocr Soc, 2019;34(2):206-209.
    PMID: 33442157 DOI: 10.15605/jafes.034.02.12
    Thyroid crisis is a life-threatening form of thyrotoxicosis characterized by multi-system dysfunction. Therapeutic plasma exchange has been reported to be effective in removing excessive circulating thyroid hormones. We present a 46-year-old female with recently diagnosed Graves' disease associated with thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy admitted for thyroid crisis complicated by propranolol-induced circulatory collapse, acute kidney injury and ischemic hepatitis. The tachyarrhythmia was refractory to conventional therapy. Initiation of TPE resulted in rapid clinical and biochemical stabilization.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  5. Gayathri DK, Dhayalen K, Chia YK, Fung YK
    Med J Malaysia, 2019 08;74(4):331-332.
    PMID: 31424043
    Osmotic demyelination syndrome results from overly rapid serum sodium correction and is often iatrogenic. We report a 50-year-old hypertensive woman on Indapamide presenting with malaise, dizziness and serum sodium less than 100mmol/l who developed osmotic demyelination syndrome after correction of the hyponatremia. Good neurological recovery was seen after plasmapheresis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis*
  6. Fu KS, Wong PY, Hiew FL
    BMJ Neurol Open, 2020;2(1):e000020.
    PMID: 33681775 DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2019-000020
    Introduction: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for semi-critical neurological manifestations can be managed in non-acute setting instead of critical care unit. In 2014, we established a non-acute neurology TPE unit for semi-critical haemodynamically stable patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the technical and safety parameters from the first 3 years of service.

    Materials and methods: We analysed prospectively collected TPE data for patients treated with centrifugation TPE at our non-acute neurology TPE unit in Kuala Lumpur Hospital between May 2015 and June 2018.

    Results: A total of 245 TPE procedures were performed in 55 patients for nine neurological indications, predominantly the central nervous system (79%). Twenty four per cent (n=13) had category I and 73% (n=40) had category II indication (American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) 2019). Others (4%) were not in ASFA indications. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders accounted for half (51%) of the total patients. Twenty-three (41.8%) patients experienced adverse events, with hypotensive episodes being the the most common (n=12/55, 21.8%). Five (9.1%) patients had catheter-related blood stream infection, correlating with higher exchange plasma volume (p=0.023). Symptomatic hypocalcaemia was less common (n=5/55, 9.1%) and allergic reaction to human albumin was rare (n=1/55, 1.8%). Four technical errors detected. Three involved centrifugation sets manufacturing defects and one involved error in centrifugation set installation. Seven (2.9%) procedures were terminated: 5 for adverse effects and 2 for technical errors.

    Conclusion: Performing TPE among semi-critical patients with neurology manifestations in basic non-acute set-up proved safe, with predictable complications. This set-up reduced the reliance on critical care services for TPE procedures.

    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  7. Whittam DH, Karthikeayan V, Gibbons E, Kneen R, Chandratre S, Ciccarelli O, et al.
    J Neurol, 2020 Dec;267(12):3565-3577.
    PMID: 32623595 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10026-y
    INTRODUCTION: While monophasic and relapsing forms of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody associated disorders (MOGAD) are increasingly diagnosed world-wide, consensus on management is yet to be developed.

    OBJECTIVE: To survey the current global clinical practice of clinicians treating MOGAD.

    METHOD: Neurologists worldwide with expertise in treating MOGAD participated in an online survey (February-April 2019).

    RESULTS: Fifty-two responses were received (response rate 60.5%) from 86 invited experts, comprising adult (78.8%, 41/52) and paediatric (21.2%, 11/52) neurologists in 22 countries. All treat acute attacks with high dose corticosteroids. If recovery is incomplete, 71.2% (37/52) proceed next to plasma exchange (PE). 45.5% (5/11) of paediatric neurologists use IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) in preference to PE. Following an acute attack, 55.8% (29/52) of respondents typically continue corticosteroids for ≥ 3 months; though less commonly when treating children. After an index event, 60% (31/51) usually start steroid-sparing maintenance therapy (MT); after ≥ 2 attacks 92.3% (48/52) would start MT. Repeat MOG antibody status is used by 52.9% (27/51) to help decide on MT initiation. Commonly used first line MTs in adults are azathioprine (30.8%, 16/52), mycophenolate mofetil (25.0%, 13/52) and rituximab (17.3%, 9/52). In children, IVIg is the preferred first line MT (54.5%; 6/11). Treatment response is monitored by MRI (53.8%; 28/52), optical coherence tomography (23.1%; 12/52) and MOG antibody titres (36.5%; 19/52). Regardless of monitoring results, 25.0% (13/52) would not stop MT.

    CONCLUSION: Current treatment of MOGAD is highly variable, indicating a need for consensus-based treatment guidelines, while awaiting definitive clinical trials.

    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  8. Suria, A.A., Hafizah, H., Nurasyikin, Y., Azlin, I., Yousuf, R., Azma, R Z., et al.
    Medicine & Health, 2018;13(2):208-216.
    MyJurnal
    Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is an uncommon disorder which usually presents with prolonged and significant primary eosinophilia with end-organ dysfunction. Damaging proteins released by the eosinophilic granules are responsible for the tissues and organ system damage. Here we report two cases of idiopathic HES. Both the patients were young lady presented with high grade fever and concomitant symptoms. Laboratory findings showed leucocytosis with predominant neutrophilia and marked eosinophilia. A diagnosis of idiopathic HES was made after excluding secondary causes of eosinophilia. However, the first patient was complicated with multiple venous thrombosis and intravenous heparin was started which was later changed to subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The patient developed pleural effusion and consolidation. Intravenous Tazoscin, tablet Prednisolone and tablet Hydroxyurea was started and the patient responded well. Despite treatment, two weeks later, suddenly the patient collapsed and unfortunately succumbed. On the other hand, the second patient was complicated with fever, thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, acute renal failure and neurological deficit which were part and parcel of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Plasma exchange was commenced and patient’s condition had slowly improved. Nevertheless, the hypoxia which she sustained during the multiple episodes of fits had resulted in permanent brain injury and thus requiring a tracheostomy for prolonged ventilatory support. Currently, there is no cure for HES. The main aim of treatment is to minimise the tissue damage caused by the hypereosinophilia. Early diagnosis and intervention are therefore crucial in preventing the spread of the disease and the end-organ damage.

    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  9. Jalalonmuhali M, Ng KP, Mohd Shariff NH, Lee YW, Wong AH, Gan CC, et al.
    Transplant Proc, 2020 05 21;52(6):1718-1722.
    PMID: 32448671 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.02.140
    The shortage of deceased donors led to an increase of living related renal transplant performed in the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) or ABO incompatibilities. There are various desensitization protocols that have been proposed. Here, we describe the outcome of these sensitized patients. This is a prospective cohort study recruiting all kidney transplant recipients from August 2016 until June 2018. Deceased donations, ABO incompatible patients, and sensitized patients who were not prescribed on our desensitization protocol were excluded. Recipients were screened for the presence of HLA-antibodies 1 month before transplant. Those with positive DSA will undergo flow cytometry (risk stratification). We are using a protocol that consisted of intravenous rituximab 200 mg (day -14), intravenous antithymocyte globulin 5mg/kg (day 0-4), plasma exchange post transplant for patients with mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) < 3000, and negative flow cytometry. Those patients with MFI ≥ 3000 or positive flow cytometry need extra cycles pretransplant. A total of 40 patients were recruited, and 20 were sensitized patients. Among the sensitized group 4 of 20 had flow cytometry crossmatch positive, while all had preformed HLA-DSA. A total of 8 of 20 had class I HLA-DSA, 11 of 20 had class II HLA-DSA, and 1of 20 was positive for both class I and II HLA-DSA. Mean immunodominant MFI was 2133.4 (standard deviation [SD], 4451.24) and 1383.7 (SD, 2979.02) for class I and class II, respectively. At 1 year, mean serum creatinine was 108.90 (SD, 25.95) and 118.42 (SD, 31.68) in sensitized and unsensitized patients, respectively. One of 20 unsensitized patients had Banff 1B rejection at 3 months, and there was no significant rejection in sensitized patients at 6 months and 1 year. There was no difference in the occurrence of de novo HLA-DSA between the groups. Desensitization protocols may help to overcome incompatibility barriers in living donor renal transplant. The combination of low-dose rituximab, antithymocyte globulin, and judicious use of plasma exchange has worked well for our cohort.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis/methods
  10. Hamizah R, Norlinah MI, Tan HJ, Soehardy Z, Halim AG, Rohana AG, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Dec;61(5):633-5.
    PMID: 17623968 MyJurnal
    A 20-year-old girl first notice bilateral ocular muscle weakness in 2001. Two months later, she developed acute muscle paralysis and respiratory failure which required ventilation. Serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies and repetitive nerve stimulation test was positive and consistent with myasthenia gravis (MG). CT scan thorax revealed thymic enlargement and she underwent a video assisted thymectomy (VATS). However, over the next three years, despite maximal doses of various immunosuppressive agents with plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin, she was admitted with recurrent myasthenic crisis without any obvious precipitant. She was then commenced on mycophenolate mofetil and together with regular plasmapheresis, cyclosporine and prednisolone, her symptoms have finally improved and brought under control.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  11. Nguyen T, Hall M, Han Y, Fiedor M, Hasset A, Lopez-Plaza I, et al.
    Pediatr Crit Care Med, 2001 Jul;2(3):187-196.
    PMID: 12793940
    PURPOSE: To discuss the current rationale for the use of specific and nonspecific therapies for thrombotic microangiopathy in thrombocytopenia-associated pediatric multiple organ failure syndromes. Methods: Pertinent PubMed and MEDLINE citations and proceedings of recent critical care meeting presentations were reviewed. RESULTS: Critical care clinicians have reported using antithrombin III concentrate, protein C concentrate, activated protein C, prostacyclin and its analogues, heparin, tissue factor pathway inhibitor concentrate, plasma infusion, plasma exchange, whole blood exchange, pentoxifylline, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase, and streptokinase with perceived therapeutic benefits in patients with thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure, including those with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, and secondary thrombotic microangiopathy syndrome without prolonged prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time. CONCLUSION: Assuming that underlying disease is remediable, a consensus has developed that thrombotic microangiopathy is a therapeutic target in children with thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure syndromes. Studies are warranted to delineate efficacious use of specific and nonspecific therapies to prevent and reverse thrombotic microangiopathy in these patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  12. Khalid BA, Ng ML
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1991 Mar;20(2):273-6.
    PMID: 1883189
    Thyroid eye disease is autoimmune in nature and associated with Graves' Disease. Autoantibodies to the 64 kDa antigen in thyroid membranes cross-react to the 64 kDa proteins in human eye muscle membranes. Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity against eye muscle cells are also found in patients with thyroid eye disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the treatment available and to share the authors' experience using cyclosporin A. In the majority of cases, thyroid eye disease is mild, manifest only as bilateral or unilateral proptosis, with/without grittiness of the eyes. This is usually treated conservatively with eye drops. If proptosis is more severe and there is incomplete closure of eyelids, epiphora and conjunctival injection, then lateral tarrsorrhaphy is usually effective, combined with use of eye pads and eye drops. The problem of diplopia can be treated conservatively with special lenses, or with surgical correction of tethered muscles. However when proptosis is severe, with raised intraocular pressure, severe chemosis and danger of blindness, then the choice of therapy is controversial: rapid decompression by surgical means or use of high doses of prednisolone. Most prefer prednisolone therapy initially, surgical decompression if it fails. Various other methods have been tried, aimed at the immunological nature of the disease, namely plasmapheresis, radiotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporin, with variable success. Our experience with cyclosporin had been mixed and inconclusive.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  13. Letchumanan P, Ng HJ, Lee LH, Thumboo J
    Rheumatology (Oxford), 2009 Apr;48(4):399-403.
    PMID: 19202160 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken510
    To compare the clinical presentation, response to therapy and outcome of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in an inception cohort of patients with and without SLE.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  14. Ting IP, Abdul Halim S, Adnan A, Jaafar H
    BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Aug 01;2017.
    PMID: 28765179 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-219628
    Goodpasture's syndrome is a rare pulmonary-renal disease. It is characterised by presence of auto-antibodies directed against the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antigen. These antibodies that bind to the GBM antigens cause rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The alveolar basement membrane also contains similar antigen, leading to pulmonary haemorrhage in active disease. We report a case of a young man who initially presented with status epilepticus and later was found to have rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with pulmonary haemorrhage. Serum anti-GBM antibody was negative but the renal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis by showing typical linear IgG along the GBM on immunofluorescent study. He was treated with plasmapheresis and high-dose steroid in combination with oral cyclophosphamide. His renal function normalised after treatment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  15. Wan Ghazali WS, Mohammad N, Ismail AM
    Arch Rheumatol, 2017 Jun;32(2):171-174.
    PMID: 30375559 DOI: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2017.6108
    This article aims to report a case of a young female patient with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis complicated with pulmonary renal syndrome, multiple relapses, and who later developed venous thromboembolism. Pulmonary renal syndrome is a well- recognized and lethal complication; however, incidence of venous thromboembolism has not been well-described. In this article, we described a 38-year-old Malay female patient admitted in 2008 with three-month history of peripheral neuropathy of lower limbs and right ankle ulcers. Initial inflammatory markers were high and perinuclear Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies were positive. She was diagnosed as anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis and started on intravenous methylprednisolone with methotrexate. She presented with relapse of skin vasculitis complicated with pulmonary renal syndrome after being stable for one year. She was intubated and proceeded with plasmapheresis and hemodialysis. She completed six cycles of cyclophosphamide. Renal biopsy revealed chronic changes consistent with end stage renal disease. She further relapsed in 2011 with nasal blockage, epistaxis, and nasal deviation. Chest X-ray revealed lung nodules. Prednisolone was increased, her symptoms settled, and she was discharged with azathioprine. She was readmitted at the end of the same year due to two-day history of right deep vein thrombosis and she later succumbed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  16. Yang SC, Mustafar R, Kamaruzaman L, Wei Yen K, Mohd R, Cader R
    Acta Med Indones, 2019 Oct;51(4):338-343.
    PMID: 32041918
    A 59-year-old lady with underlying hypothyroidism presented with acute contact dermatitis progressed to cellulitis with superimposed bacterial infection and acute kidney injury. She responded to initial management with antibiotics, but a week later, she had cutaneous and systemic vasculitis. Her skin biopsy consistent with immune-mediated leuko-cytoclastic vasculitis and her blood test was positive for cytoplasmic-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (c-ANCA). A diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis was made and she was treated with immunosuppressant with plasmapheresis and hemodialysis support for her kidney failure. Despite aggressive measures, the patient succumbed to her illness. This case report demonstrates that soft tissue infection could trigger the development of ANCA-associated vasculitis whilst a background of hypothyroidism serves as a predisposing factor as both condition were reported separately in a couple of case studies before.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
  17. Fadilah SA, Muhaya M, Azlin I
    Med J Malaysia, 2007 Oct;62(4):349-51.
    PMID: 18551947 MyJurnal
    Irreversible optic nerve dysfunction associated with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) is an unusual but important complication of Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia (WM). Acute visual loss in CRVO is mainly due the severe macular oedema. However, ischaemic optic neuropathy needs to be considered in patients with CRVO when, (i) there is a relative afferent papillary defect and central scotoma, (ii) the visual acuity is not consistent with the retinal pathology, and (iii) the visual defects persisted despite resolution of macular oedema following treatment of the hyperviscosity state. The ischaemic type of CRVO is associated with a poor visual prognosis and the presenting visual acuity has a prognostic role. We report the first description of irreversible unilateral optic nerve damage associated with CRVO in a patient with WM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plasmapheresis
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