Plasmapheresis was first introduced as a means of treating the rheumatic diseases in 1976. The rationale of its use was the removal of circulating immune complexes, thus preventing their deposition in the tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis circulating immune complexes do indeed occur and are responsible for some of the serious complications such as vasculitis. Since the T cells are implicated in tissue damage, lymphapheresis and lymphoplasmapheresis were introduced with various success rates. Controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis have found no value for intensive plasmapheresis, limited value for lymphapheresis and possible, though suspect, value for lymphoplasmapheresis.
BrubakerD.B., WinkelsteinA.: Plasma exchange in rheumatoid vasculitis.Vo. Sang.41: 295–301, 1981.
5.
BjelleA., CedergrenB., WählbyL.: Plasma exchange in two patients with rheumatoid vasculitis.Cand. J. Rheumatol.11: 58–62, 1981.
6.
DequekerJ., WalravensM., LegsA., PietersR.: Artreritis associated with hyperviscosity-like syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis, treated by intermittent plasma exchange for 2-5 years.Rheumatol. and Rehabitation20: 203–207, 1981.
7.
GoldmanJ.A., CaseyH.L., McIlwainH., KirbyJ., WilsonC.H., MillerS.B.: Limited plasmapheresis in rheumatoid arthritis with vasculitis.Arthr. Rheumat.22: 1146–1150, 1979.
8.
WallaceD.I., GoldfingerD., Thompson-BretonK., MartinG., LoweC.M., BluestoneR., KlinenbergJ.R.: Advances in the use of therapeutic apheresis for the management of rheumatic diseases.Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism10: 81–91, 1980.
9.
WallaceD.J., GoldfingerD., GattiR., LoweC., FanP., BluestoneR., KlinenbergJ.R.: Plasmapheresis and lymphoplasmapheresis in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.Arthr. Rheumat.22: 703–710, 1979.
10.
RothwellR.S., DavisP., GordonP.A., DasguptaM.K., JohnyK.V., RussellA.S., PercyJ.S.: A controlled study of plasma exchange in the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis.Arthr. Rheumat.23: 785–790, 1980.
11.
DwoshI.L., GilesA.R., FordP.M., PaterJ.C., AnastassiadesT.P.: Plasmapheresis therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled double blend, crossover trial. New Engl.J. Med.308: 1124–1129, 1983.
12.
WallaceD.J., KlinenbergJ.R., GoldfingerD.: Plasmapheresis for rheumatoid arthritis. New Engl.J. Med.3019: 986, 1983.
13.
PaulusH.E., MachlederH.I., LevineS., Yudty, MacDonaldN.S.: Lymphocyte involvement in rheumatoid arthritis, studies during thoracic duct drainage.Arthr. Rheumat.20: 1249–1262, 1977.
14.
TenenbaumJ., UrowitzM.B., KeystoneE.C., DwoshI.L., CurtisJ.E.: Leucapheresis in severe rheumatoid arthritis.Ann. Rheum. Dis.38: 40–44, 1979.
15.
KarshJ., WrightD.G., KlippelJ.H., DeckerJ.L., DeisserothA.B., FlyM.N.: Lymphocyte depletion by continuous flow cell centrifugation in rheumatoid arthritis.Arthr. Rheumat.22: 1055–1059, 1979.
16.
KarshJ., KlippelJ.H., PlotzP.H., DeckerJ.L., WrightD.G., FlyeM.W.: Lymphapheresis in rheumatoid arthritis. A randomised trial.Arthr. Rheumat.24: 867–873, 1981.
17.
WallaceD., GoldfingerD., LoweC., NicholsS., WeinerJ., BrackmanM., KlinenbergJ.R.: A double blend controlled study of lymphophasmapheresis versus sham apheresis in rheumatoid arthritis. New Engl.J. Med.306: 1406–1410, 1982.
