Use of plasma exchange as therapeutic tool in clinical practice.

Objective: To descrive the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in several pathologies and its adjustment to international reference guides.

Method: Observational, descriptive, retrospective study, of all the patients that  received plasmapheresis between January 2014-December 2015. We analized  the appropriate indication according to the bibliography consulted, and the  therapeutic outcome. Indication, replaced volume of plasma, number of sessions  and periodicity were established by the Hematology Service depending  on the disease and its clinical course.

Results: 10 patients (8 women), between 28-72 years old, received therapeutic  plasma exchange. The pathologies treated were  eurological (9 patients), Waldenström disease (1 patient). The technique used  was continuous centrifugation with albumin 5% as replacement fluid.

Conclusions: The therapeutic plasma exchange in reviewed patients agreed to  reference guides. There was not a direct relation between the recommendation  grade and the response obtained. The reduced number of patients is a limitation  to obtain conclusive results.