Therapeutic apheresis: Results from a single center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic apheresis (TA) is carried out for a broad spectrum of diseases and syndromes. AIM: We retrospectively evaluated the results of therapeutic apheresis (TA) including plasma exchange, therapeutic plateletpheresis, and leukapheresis during 2000-2006. METHODS: A total of 195 procedures were performed in 44 patients (25 male and 19 female, with a mean age of 52+/-15 years). These procedures consist of 165 plasma exchanges, 20 therapeutic plateletpheresis, and 10 leukapheresis. The most common indications were hematological, neurological, and metabolic diseases. Eighty-three percent of plasma exchange, 100% of plateletpheresis and leukapheresis belonged to indication Category I or II, according to the guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis. RESULTS: While hemoglobin levels significantly increased (p<0.05), platelet counts decreased (p<0.005) after plasma exchange. Hematological parameters did not statistically change significantly with leukapheresis (p>0.05). Platelet counts significantly decreased with plateletpheresis (p<0.001). Total complications were detected in 21% of the procedures. Adverse events (AE) were seen in 17% of the procedures. None of the patients died (Grade-IV) from any complication. AEs occurred in 14% (Grade-I), 1% (Grade-II), and 2% (Grade-III) of the procedures. The most common AEs were nausea/vomiting, hypotension, and abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: TA, an important procedure in Transfusion Medicine, is safely carried out in our center in several hematological, neurological, and metabolic diseases which are similar to previous reports.