Therapeutic plasmapheresis in immune complex diseases

: We studied the dependence of the plasma protein and volume on the exfusion volume, type and composition of the substitution solution in 140 plasmapheresis procedures given to patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and bronchial asthma. The change of blood protein system corresponded to the procedure regime. The procedure does not entail adverse reactions if it removes up to 30% of the plasma circulating volume (replacement with salt solution), 50% of the plasma circulating volume (replacement with dextran solution) or 95% of that with replacement with albumin. We have tested 3 simple mathematic models for postplasmapheresis proteinemia and recommend the regression equation Ct = a0 + a1.Co as the most adequate model.