Soluble endoglin as a biomarker of successful rheopheresis treatment in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive chronic disease causing visual impairment or central vision loss in the elderly. We hypothesized that successful rheopheresis would be associated with positive changes in soluble endoglin (sENG), PSCK9, alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), and hs-CRP levels. 31 elderly patients with the dry form of AMD, treated with rheopheresis with a follow-up period of at least 5 years and an average age of 68 ± 4 years, were evaluated.

The world apheresis association registry, 2023 update.

The WAA apheresis registry contains data on more than 140,000 apheresis procedures conducted in 12 different countries. The aim is to give an update of indications, type and number of procedures and adverse events (AEs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The WAA-registry is used for registration of apheresis procedures and is free of charge.

Pregnancy in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia-A case series.

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal codominant lipid metabolism disorder. It results in lifelong elevation of plasmatic low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, followed by premature atherosclerosis. In women, pregnancy and lactation represent an additional risk due to association of physiological changes, pre-existing dyslipidemia, and limited therapeutic possibilities and experiences.

Erratum: Filip, S.; et al. Therapeutic Apheresis, Circulating PLD, and Mucocutaneous Toxicity: Our Clinical Experience through Four Years. 2020, , 940.

The following correction has been made to this paper [...

Therapeutic Apheresis, Circulating PLD, and Mucocutaneous Toxicity: Our Clinical Experience through Four Years.

Cancer treatment has been greatly improved by the combined use of targeted therapies and novel biotechnological methods. Regarding the former, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has a preferential accumulation within cancer tumors, thus having lower toxicity on healthy cells. PLD has been implemented in the targeted treatment of sarcoma, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.

IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: Suitable targets for minimal residual disease monitoring?

Objectives: Molecular screening plays a major role in prognostic categorization and subsequent definition of treatment strategies for acute myeloid leukemia. The possibility of using IDH1/2 mutations as a marker for the monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) is still under investigation and remains unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 90 patients with de novo AML using Sanger sequencing (exon 4, IDH1 and IDH2).

[The role of PCSK9-inhibitors and of lipoprotein apheresis in the treatment of homozygous and severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: A rivalry, or are things quite different?].

PCSK9-inhibitors belong to the new class of hypolipidemic agents. They enhance catabolism of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) through inhibiting activity of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). They are monoclonal antibodies (alirocumab, evolocumab etc).

Rheopheresis in treatment of idiopathic sensorineural sudden hearing loss.

Backround: Only few therapeutic options exist for patients with refractory sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SISHL). Little is known about the efficacy of second-line therapies. Rheopheresis seems to be an effective therapeutic possibility.

[Position of lipoprotein apheresis in present].

Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is an effective treatment method the patients with severe hypercholesterolemia, resistant to the standard therapy. LA is an extracorporeal elimination technique, which specifically removes low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the circulation. At present, lipoprotein apheresis, combined with high-dose statin and ezetimibe therapy, is the best available means of treating patients with homozygous and statin refractory heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).

Preservation of the Photoreceptor Inner/Outer Segment Junction in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated by Rheohemapheresis.

Aim. To evaluate the long-term effect of rheohemapheresis (RHF) treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on photoreceptor IS/OS junction status. Methods.

Blood levels of antioxidants during age-related macular degeneration treatment by rheohaemapheresis.

Aims: Rheohaemapheresis treatment influences rheological markers and most likely improves metabolism in affected retinal areas, resulting not only in absorption of soft drusen but also reduction or complete disappearance of drusenoid retinal pigment epithelium detachments. However, the character of the treatment process has raised suspicion that there is a decrease not only in cholesterol but also in antioxidants, such as vitamin E and vitamin A.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with the progressive dry form of age-related macular degeneration were each treated with 8 procedures of rheohaemapheresis.

The Effect of LDL-Apheresis and Rheohaemapheresis Treatment on Vitamin E.

Lipid apheresis (extracorporeal lipoprotein elimination) is administered to patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who fail to respond to standard therapy. The nature of the treatment process raises the suspicion that it decreases not only cholesterol but also antioxidants. A group of 12 patients (average age 47±17 y, 4 homozygous and 8 heterozygous individuals) with familial hypercholesterolemia treated by LDL-apheresis or rheohaemapheresis for 3-12 y was included in the study.

[LDL-apheresis in the treatment familial hypercholesterolemia].

LDL-apheresis is an extracorporeal elimination technique, which specifically removes LDL-cholesterol from the circulation. There are six methods for the selective LDL-cholesterol removal these days. The main indications for LDL-apheresis are the diagnosis of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia which is refractory the standard care and intolerance of routine care, and also patients with lipoprotein(a) increase resistant to the farmacotherapy.

Long-term outcomes of rheohaemapheresis in the treatment of dry form of age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose. Determining long-term effects of rheohaemapheresis on the dry form of age-related macular degeneration. Methods.

Fifteen years of single center experience with stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) became standard of care for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) under the age of 65 years. We routinely perform ASCT for newly diagnosed MM since 1996 in our department.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all 285 transplants in 185 patients done for MM from January 1996 till December 2010.

Dynamics of blood count after rheohemapheresis in age-related macular degeneration: possible association with clinical changes.

Background: Rheohemapheresis (RHF) is a method that can stop the activity of the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The pathophysiologic mechanisms are not well understood, and the effects of the RHF procedures extend beyond the time of the individual procedures.

Patients And Methods: We present the data for 46 patients with AMD treated with a series of 8 rheohemapheretic procedures.

Beneficial effect of plasma exchange in the treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis: a series of four cases.

Introduction: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate that is linked to drug toxicity. There is a lack of data about the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and treatment options. The only widely accepted treatment of TEN is withdrawal of the offending drug followed by supportive care.

The importance of rheological parameters in the therapy of the dry form of age-related macular degeneration with rheohaemapheresis.

To date, rheological treatment is the only chance to control the advanced dry form of age-related macular degeneration and arrest its progression to legal blindness. Rheohaemapheresis can change the main rheological parameters, blood and plasma viscosity, as well as change erythrocyte aggregability, improve erythrocyte flexibility and lead to substantial improvement when other methods of therapy fail. In this study, we describe changes in the levels of rheological efficacy indicators after rheohaemapheresis and their clinical significance in the dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Experience with extracorporeal elimination therapy in myasthenia gravis.

We describe our experience with plasma exchange (PE) and immunoadsorption in patients with myasthenia gravis. The group of 27 patients consists of 21 patients treated with PE and 6 patients who received immunoadsorption. PE therapy led to stabilization in 20 patients.