Complications of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis in Patients with Neurologic Diseases at A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the complications of therapeutic plasmapheresis in patients with neurological
diseases at a tertiary care hospital.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military
Hospital (PEMH) Rawalpindi, Pakistan from August 2021 to July 2022.
Methods: This study was carried out on patients diagnosed with various neurologic diseases where therapeutic
plasmapheresis was performed which involves the replacement of patient plasma with donor plasma. A total
of 680 therapeutic plasmapheresis treatments were performed on patients with a variety of neurologic
diseases. Ppatients with hemodynamic instability, active sepsis, coagulopathy, and known allergies to fresh
frozen plasma were excluded from the study. Data was recorded from consenting patients on a pre-designed
proforma recording various parameters.
Results: Among 680 treatments,76.2% were carried out in males and 23.8% in females.
Guillain Barre Syndrome (42.06%) was the most common disease followed by chronic inflammatory
demyelinating polyneuropathy (13.82%), neuromyelitis optical spectrum disorders (10.29%), and myasthenia
gravis (7.94%) being the most common ones. In total 157 (23%) adverse events were noted, with fever (2.9%),
pruritis (2.8%), urticaria and mild hypotension (2.5% each), tachycardia (2.2%), and DVT (1.3%) being
commonly encountered complications. Anaphylaxis was recorded in 0.1%. The majority of the reactions were
mild 118 (17.3%), some moderate 21 (3%), and few were severe 11 (1.6%). Serious, life-threatening events were
seen in 0.1% and none had a fatal outcome. Prophylactic use of calcium resulted in lower electrolyte imbalancerelated
complications.
Conclusion: Therapeutic plasmapheresis is a safer treatment option for various neurologic diseases when
performed by trained staff.

How to cite this: Ahmed N, Ahmad I, Siddiqi FA, Nawaz KH, Liaqat J, Ahmad F. Complications of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis in Patients with Neurologic Diseases at A Tertiary Care Hospital. Life and Science. 2024; 5(2): 259-265. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.538