Early plasmapheresis and rituximab for acute humoral rejection after ABO-compatible liver transplantation

Acute humoral rejection （AHR） is uncommon after ABO- compatible liver transplantation. Herein, we report two cases of AHR treated with plasmapheresis and rituximab in two ABO-compatible liver-transplant patients with preformed anti-human leukocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies. Patient 1 experienced a biopsy-proven AHR at day 10 post-transplant. She was treated by steroid pulses, and OKT3. Because of persisting signs of biopsy-proven AHR at day 26, she was treated by plasmapheresis and rituximab. Uver enzyme levels did not improve, and she died on day 41. Patient 2 experienced a biopsy-proven AHR on day 10 post-transplant. She was treated by steroid pulses, plasmapheresis, and rituximab. Liver enzymes returned to within normal range 18 d after diagnosis. Uver biopsies, at 3 and 9 mo post-transplant, showed complete resolution of AHR. We conclude that plasmapheresis should be started as soon as AHR is diagnosed, and be associated with a B-cell depleting agent. Rituximab may be considered as a first-line therapy.

Electroconvulsive therapy and/or plasmapheresis in autoimmune encephalitis?

Autoimmune encephalitis is a poorly understood condition that can present with a combination of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, either of which may predominate. There are many autoantibodies associated with a variety of clinical syndromes-anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor(NMDAR) is the commonest. Currently, the most widely used therapy is prompt plasmapheresis and steroid treatment(and tumour resection if indicated), followed by second line immunosuppression if this fails. Given the growing awareness of autoimmune encephalitis as an entity, it is increasingly important that we consider it as a potential diagnosis in order to provide timely, effective treatment. We discuss several previously published case reports and one new case. These reports examined the effects of electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) on patients with autoimmune encephalitis, particularly those in whom psychiatric symptoms are especially debilitating and refractory to standard treatment. We also discuss factors predicting good outcome and possible mechanisms by which ECT may be effective. Numerous cases, such as those presented by Wingfield, Tsutsui, Florance, Sansing, Braakman and Matsumoto, demonstrate effective use of ECT in anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients with severe psychiatric symptoms such as catatonia, psychosis, narcolepsy and stupor who had failed to respond to standard treatments alone. We also present a new case of a 71-year-old female who presented to a psychiatric unit initially with depression, which escalated to catatonia, delusions, nihilism and auditory hallucinations. After anti-NMDAR antibodies were isolated, she was treated by the neurology team with plasmapheresis and steroids, with a partial response. She received multiple sessions of ECT and her psychiatric symptoms completely resolved and she returned to her premorbid state. For this reason, we suggest that ECT should be considered, particularly in those patients who are non-responders to standard therapies.

A comparison of desensitization methods: Rituximab with/without plasmapheresis in ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation

Background: Plasmapheresis is a desensitization method used prior to ABO-incompatible(ABO-I) living donor liver transplantation. However, studies on its usefulness in the rituximab era are lacking.Methods: Fifty-six adult patients underwent ABO-I living donor liver transplantation between January2012 and October 2015. A single dose of rituximab(300 mg/m~2) was administered 2 weeks before surgery with plasmapheresis in all patients until February 2014(RP group, n = 26). Patients were administered rituximab only, without plasmapheresis between March 2014 and October 2015(RO group, n = 30).Results: The 6-, 12-and 18-month overall survival rates were 92.3%, 80.8% and 76.9% in the RP group and 96.6%, 85.4% and 85.4% in the RO group, respectively(P = 0.574). When the initial isoagglutinin titers < 16, neither group showed a rebound rise of isoagglutinin titers. For patients with initial isoagglutinin titers ≥ 16, the rebound rise of isoagglutinin titers was more prominent in the RP group. There was no difference in time-dependent changes in B cell subpopulations and ABO-I-related complications.Conclusions: Sufficient desensitization for ABO-I living donor liver transplantation can be achieved using rituximab alone. This desensitization strategy does not affect the isoagglutinin titers, ABO-I-related complications and patient survival.

Extracorporeal continuous portal diversion plus temporal plasmapheresis for “small-for-size” syndrome

AIM:To investigate the effect of plasmapheresis via the portal vein for"small-for-size"syndrome(SFSS)aided by extracorporeal continuous portal diversion(ECPD).METHODS:Extensive or total hepatectomy in the pig is usually adopted as a postoperative liver failure(PLF)or SFSS model.In this study,animals which underwent85%-90%hepatectomy were randomized into either the Systemic group(n=7)or the Portal group(n=7).In the Systemic group,all pigs received temporal plasmapheresis(PP)via the extracorporeal catheter circuit(systemic to systemic circulation)from 24 to 30 h posthepatectomy(PH);in the Portal group,all pigs received ECPD to divert partial portal vein flow(PVF)to the systemic circulation after hepatectomy,then converted to temporal PP from 24 to 30 h PH,and subsequently converted to ECPD again until 48 h PH.In the Portal group,the PVF was preserved at 3.0-3.3 times that of the baseline value,similar to that following 70%hepatectomy,which was regarded as the optimal PVF to the hypertrophic liver remnant.At 48 h PH,all pigs were re-opened and the portal vein pressure(PVP),PVF,and HAF(hepatic artery flow)were measured,and then diversion of the portal venous flow was terminated.After1 h the PVP,PVF,and HAF were re-measured.The portal hemodynamic changes,liver injury,liver regeneration and bacterial/lipopolysaccharide(LPS)translocation were evaluated in the two groups.RESULTS:The PVP in the Portal group was significantly lower than that in the Systemic group during the time period from 2 to 49 h PH(P<0.05).Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),total bilirubin(TB)and ammonia were significantly reduced in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group from 24 to 48 h PH(P<0.05).The Portal group may have attenuated sinusoidal endothelial injury and decreased the level of HA compared with the Systemic group.In the Systemic group,there was significant sinusoidal dilation,hydropic changes in hepatocytes and hemorrhage into the hepatic parenchyma,and the sinusoidal endothelial lining was partially destroyed and detached into the sinusoidal space.CD31immunostaining revealed significant destruction of the endothelial lining.In the Portal group,there was no intraparenchymal hemorrhage and the sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes were well preserved.CD31immunostaining was mild which indicated less destruction of the endothelial lining.HA was significantly decreased in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group from 2 to 48 h PH.The rate of liver remnant regeneration was elevated,while apoptosis was attenuated in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group.Thymidine kinase activity was much higher in the Portal group than in the Systemic group at 48 h PH.The PCNA index was significantly increased and the apoptotic index was significantly decreased in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group.Bacterial translocation and endotoxin,as well as the inflammatory response,were significantly attenuated in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group.LPS,tumor necrosis factor-and interleukin-6 levels were all significantly decreased in the Portal group compared with the Systemic group from 24 to48 h PH,while bacterial DNA level was significantly decreased from 2 to 48 h PH.CONCLUSION:PP plus ECPD via the portal vein can attenuate toxic load and hyperperfusion injury,and should be undertaken instead of PP via the systemic circulation in SFSS or PLF.

Rituximab or plasmapheresis for prevention of recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis after kidney transplantation:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS)is one of the most common glomerular diseases leading to renal failure.FSGS has a high risk of recurrence after kidney transplantation.Prevention of recurrent FSGS using rituximab and/or plasmapheresis has been evaluated in multiple small studies with conflicting results.AIM To assess the risk of recurrence of FSGS after transplantation using prophylactic rituximab with or without plasmapheresis,and plasmapheresis alone compared to the standard treatment group without preventive therapy.METHODS This meta-analysis and systematic review were performed by first conducting a literature search of the MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Cochrane databases,from inception through March 2021;search terms included‘FSGS,’’steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome’,‘rituximab,’and‘plasmapheresis,’.We identified studies that assessed the risk of post-transplant FSGS after use of rituximab with or without plasmapheresis,or plasmapheresis alone.Inclusion criteria were:Original,published,randomized controlled trials or cohort studies(either prospective or retrospective),case-control,or cross-sectional studies;inclusion of odds ratio,relative risk,and standardized incidence ratio with 95%confidence intervals(CI),or sufficient raw data to calculate these ratios;and subjects without interventions(controls)being used as comparators in cohort and cross-sectional studies.Effect estimates from individual studies were extracted and combined using a random effects model.RESULTS Eleven studies,with a total of 399 kidney transplant recipients with FSGS,evaluated the use of rituximab with or without plasmapheresis;thirteen studies,with a total of 571 kidney transplant recipients with FSGS,evaluated plasmapheresis alone.Post-transplant FSGS recurred relatively early.There was no significant difference in recurrence between the group that received rituximab(with or without plasmapheresis)and the standard treatment group,with a pooled risk ratio of 0.82(95%CI:0.47-1.45,I2=65%).Similarly,plasmapheresis alone was not associated with any significant difference in FSGS recurrence when compared with no plasmapheresis;the pooled risk ratio was 0.85(95%CI:0.60-1.21,I2=23%).Subgroup analyses in the pediatric and adult groups did not yield a significant difference in recurrence risk.We also reviewed and analyzed posttransplant outcomes including timing of recurrence and graft survival.CONCLUSION Overall,the use of rituximab with or without plasmapheresis,or plasmapheresis alone,is not associated with a lower risk of FSGS recurrence after kidney transplantation.Future studies are required to assess the effectiveness of rituximab with or without plasmapheresis among specific patient subgroups with high-risk for FSGS recurrence.

Plasmapheresis and corticosteroid treatment for persistent jaundice after successful drainage of common bile duct stones by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography

Prolonged cholestasis is a very rare complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). Only few cases with this complication are reported in the English literature. We report persisting cholestatic jaundice in a 73-year old man after successful therapeutic ERC for choledocholithiasis. Serologic tests for viral and autoimmune hepatitis were all negative. A second-look ERC was normal also. He denied any medication except for prophylaxis given intravenous 1 g ceftriaxon prior to the ERC procedure. After an unsuccessful trial with ursodeoxycholic acid and cholestyramine for 2 wk, this case was efficiently treated with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis. His cholestatic enzymes became normal and intense pruritis quickly resolved after this treatment which lasted during his follow- up period. We discussed the possible mechanisms and treatment alternatives of intrahepatic cholestasis associated with the ERC procedure.

Double filtration plasmapheresis for pregnancy with hyperlipidemia in glycogen storage disease type Ia:A case report

BACKGROUND Glycogen storage disease type Ia(GSDIa) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism that is caused by deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase(G6Pase),leading to disturbed glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.Patients with GSDIa show severe fasting hypoglycemia,hyperlipidemia,hyperlactacidemia,and hyperuricemia,which are associated with fatal outcomes in pregnant women and fetuses.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a 24-year-old female who on her first visit to the hospital,presented with pregnancy combined with extremely high hyperlipidemia and hyperlactic acidosis with anemia,and frequent hypoglycemia occurred during the treatment.Genetic tests revealed a mutation in the G6Pase gene(G6PC) at 17q21,the patient was finally diagnosed with glycogen storage disease type Ia for the first time after 22 years of inaccurate treatment.She has been treated with a continuous double filtration plasmapheresis(DFPP) strategy to remove blood lipids,and a cornstarch diet therapy.The patient did not develop pancreatitis during the course of the disease and a healthy baby girl weighing 3 kg was delivered.CONCLUSION Patients with GSDIa may be misdiagnosed as epilepsy.DFPP can be used to control hyperlipidemia in GSDIa patients during pregnancy.

A case of Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone after unsuccessful immunoadsorption plasmapheresis

Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE) is a rare post-infectious neurological syndrome for which an effective treatment strategy has not been established. Here, we report a case of a 71-year-old male who suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection, and 7 days later, developed numbness of the bilateral upper and lower limbs, unsteady gait and dysarthria. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was normal, nerve conduction study and cerebral spinal fluid analysis were nonspecific. Based on the clinical features, we tentatively diagnosed Guillain-Barré syndrome and started immunoadsorption plasmapheresis. However, consciousness progressively declined to coma level within 10 days. Electroencephalogram showed diffuse slowing, and auditory evoked brainstem response (ABR) demonstrated absence of waves II, III and V. Serum anti-GQ1b IgG autoantibody and anti-GM1b IgG autoantibody were negative. Subsequently, we diagnosed BBE, and clinical symptoms resolved after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and methyllprednisolone. On day 62, neurological symptoms were remarkably alleviated with an improvement in ABR. Our observations suggest that immunoadsorption plasmapheresis should be used only when anti-ganglioside antibodies are detected. Combination therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone or plasma exchange?is recommended as initial therapy.

Role of plasmapheresis in early allograft dysfunction following deceased donor liver transplantation

The role of plasmapheresis in liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy is undefined and its use as a strategy to salvage patients with severe allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation remains investigational. We present a case of early allograft dysfunction following deceased donor liver transplantation(DDLT) where plasmapheresis was effective as a bridge to recovery and possibly avoiding a retransplantation. A 16 years old boy, known to have decompensated Wilson's disease underwent DDLT at our Public Sector Hospital. He received a healthy liver from a brain-dead donor, whose liver was considered too large for the boy. The graft was reduced in situ to a left lobe graft. Surgery was uneventful and the recipient was well for the initial 96 h. On Doppler and further computed tomography scan, a partial portal vein thrombus was noted. He was reexplored and a Fogarty endothombecteomy was performed. Following the second surgery, he developed severe allograft dysfunction with a peak bilirubin of 40 mg/d L. He underwent imaging to rule out technical causes for the dysfunction, followed by a liver biopsy, which revealed acute cellular rejection. Multiple cycles of plasmapheresis were initiated. Over the next two weeks, the graft demonstrated a gradual recovery. He was discharged on the 30 th postoperative day, with a serum bilirubin of 5.5 mg/d L. He remains well on follow-up, with the liver function tests improving further. Our report demonstrates the beneficial effect of plasmapheresis, which appears to be an effective treatment option for early allograft dysfunction following liver transplantation and may obviate the need for retransplantation.

Reduction of High-Titer Cold Agglutinins by Plasmapheresis to Resolve Serological Problem in a Patient

Background: Cold agglutinins are auto-antibodies that can be a nuisance in cross matching and in blood grouping. Here we report an unusual case of a high titer and wide amplitude cold agglutinin reduced by plasmapheresis. Methods and Materials: A 56-year-old man with severe anemia requested a transfusion of red blood cells. However, there was a problem in blood for blood grouping. The discrepancy of blood typing was subsequently resolved using group O absorbed plasma along with repetition of forward grouping with warm-washed red blood cells. The presence of high-thermal-amplitude and a high-titer anti-I cold agglutinin were detected in further serologic investigation. It revealed reactivity against autologous and adult O red blood cells at 37°C by the thermal amplitude screening test, and demonstrated a very high titer of 65,536 against adult O cells by titration studies at 4°C. The patient received two plasma exchange sessions of 1.5 plasma volumes each. There was a significant reduction of the titer of cold agglutinins and of the thermal amplitude by plasmapheresis as well (p < 0.01). Results: After successful cross-matching with post plasma exchanges, four units of red blood cells were infused to the patient without any hemolysis symptoms or signs. Conclusions: We now reported a patient with abnormally ascended titer of cold agglutinins and wide-thermal-amplitude, but we also successfully performed ABO typing and cross matching after 2 plasma exchange sessions of 1.5 plasma volumes each.

Severe IgA vasculitis with features of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome in a 60‐year‐old male treated with plasmapheresis

Objective:To explore a possible association between systemic immunoglobulin A(IgA)vasculitis and RS3PE syndrome and to investigate specific treatment regimens for adults who present with IgA vasculitis with renal involvement.Methods:The patient was treated with plasmapheresis and fresh frozen plasma(FFP)every other day with 1g methylprednisolone daily for three days followed by oral prednisone taper.Mycophenolate mofetil twice daily and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole for Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis was started.In total the patient received two cycles of plasmapheresis and fresh frozen plasma.Results:The patient's renal function drastically improved with resolution of both abdominal pain and nausea.Conclusion:We illustrate a possible association between systemic IgA vasculitis and RS3PE syndrome,and this case demonstrates IgA vasculitis with renal involvement that acutely resolved with high‐dose glucocorticoids and plasmapheresis.Additionally,our specific treatment regimen can be a potential standard of care for adults who present with IgA vasculitis with renal involvement.

Stiff Person with Anti-GAD Antibodies

Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a rare autoimmune disease related to the lack of inhibition of excitatory neurons in the central nervous system leading to multiple motor dysfunction and symptoms due to uncontrolled motor neuron firing. The pathophysiology of the disease is not completely understood;however, high titers of Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (anti-GAD Ab) have been found in such patients, which leads to its high association with the disease. We present a case of a 52-year-old female with a 20-year history of ongoing gait and balance issues. She is diagnosed with multiple conditions, including stiff person syndrome (GAD+), spinocerebellar ataxia with epilepsy, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes mellitus, IgA deficiency, hypothyroidism, and pernicious anemia. She presented in our institution with a history of a recent fall from a wheelchair. We review the case presentation and association of anti-GAD antibodies with stiff person syndrome and its treatment.

Plasma exchange in patients with acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Acute liver failure(ALF)and acute-on-chronic liver(ACLF)carry high short-term mortality rate,and may result from a wide variety of causes.Plasma exchange has been shown in a randomized control trial to improve survival in ALF especially in patients who did not receive a liver transplant.Other cohort studies demonstrated potential improvement in survival in patients with ACLF.AIM To assess utility of plasma exchange in liver failure and its effect on mortality in patients who do not undergo liver transplantation.METHODS Databases MEDLINE via PubMed,and EMBASE were searched and relevant publications up to 30 March,2019 were assessed.Studies were included if they involved human participants diagnosed with liver failure who underwent plasma exchange,with or without another alternative non-bioartificial liver assist device.RESULTS Three hundred twenty four records were reviewed,of which 62 studies were found to be duplicates.Of the 262 records screened,211 studies were excluded.Fifty-one articles were assessed for eligibility,for which 7 were excluded.Twenty-nine studies were included for ALF only,and 9 studies for ACLF only.Six studies included both ALF and ACLF patients.A total of 44 publications were included.Of the included publications,2 were randomized controlled trials,14 cohort studies,12 case series,16 case reports.All of three ALF studies which looked at survival rate or survival days reported improvement in outcome with plasma exchange.In two out of four studies where plasma exchange-based liver support systems were compared to standard medical treatment(SMT)for ACLF,a biochemical improvement was seen.Survival in the non-transplanted patients was improved in all four studies in patients with ACLF comparing plasma exchange vs SMT.Using the aforementioned studies,plasma exchange based therapy in ACLF compared to SMT improved survival in non-transplanted patients at 30 and 90-d with a pooled OR of 0.60(95%CI 0.46-0.77,P<0.01).CONCLUSION The level of evidence for use of high volume plasma exchange in selected ALF cases is high.Plasma exchange in ACLF improves survival at 30-and 90-d in nontransplanted patients.Further well-designed randomized control trials will need to be carried out to ascertain the optimal duration and amount of plasma exchange required and assess if the use of high volume plasma exchange can be extrapolated to patients with ACLF.

case of familial hyperlipoproteinemia type Ⅲ hypertriglyceridemia induced acute pancreatitis: role for outpatient apheresis maintenance therapy

Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis(HTGP) accounts for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis presentations in nonpregnant individuals and is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis after alcohol and gallstones. There are a number of retrospective studies and case reports that have suggested a role for apheresis and insulin infusion in the acute inpatient setting. We report a case of HTGP in a male with hyperlipoproteinemia type Ⅲ who was treated successfully with insulin and apheresis on the initial inpatient presentation followed by bi-monthly outpatient maintenance apheresis sessions for the prevention of recurrent HTGP. We also reviewed the literature for the different inpatient and outpatient management modalities of HTGP. Given that there are no guidelines or randomized clinical trials that evaluate the outpatient management of HTGP, this case report may provide insight into a possible role for outpatient apheresis maintenance therapy.

Bile cast nephropathy: A case report and review of the literature

Bile cast nephropathy is a condition of renal dysfunction in the setting of hyperbilirubinemia. There are very few cases of this condition reported in the last decade and a lack of established treatment guidelines. While the exact etiology remains unknown, bile cast nephropathy is presumed to be secondary to multiple concurrent insults to the kidney including direct toxicity from bile acids, obstructive physiology from bile casts, and systemic hypoperfusion from vasodilation. Therapy directed at bilirubin reduction may improve renal function, but will likely need dialysis or plasmapheresis as well. We report our case of bile cast nephropathy and the therapeutic measures undertaken in a middle-aged male with chronic renal insufficiency that developed hyperbilirubinemia and drug-induced liver injury secondary to antibiotic use. He developed acute renal injury in the setting of rising bilirubin. He subsequently had a progressive decline in renal and hepatic function, requiring dialysis and plasmapheresis with some improvement, ultimately requiring transplantation.

A CASE OF HEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN CAUSED BY ANTI-HRO AND ANTI-E

A Chinese woman of blood group B,D-and her husband of blood group AB,CCDeewere examined.The woman had not been transfused before.Their first two babiesdied.Anti-Hro and anti-e were found in the mother’s serum.During her third pregnancy,the titer of antibodies went up quickly,approximately one titer per month.After 36 weeksof pregnancy,the baby was delivered by Caesarean section.The cord blood Hb was 88g/L,his red blood cell count 2.7×1012/L,and total biIirubin 114.6 mol/L.The baby was ofblood group AB,and CDe-D-genotype.Exchangetransfusion was begun 2.5 hours afterbirth.O,ccDEE washed red cells together with group AB plasma were used.Two dayslater,7Oml washed O,ccDEE concentrated red cells were administered.The baby is aliveand in good health.

Selective Removal of Low-Density Lipoproteins from Blood by Induced Precipitation with AAS in Vitro(Ⅰ)

1 INTRODUCTION It’s evident that high level of cholesterol in blood is associated with the formation and devel-opment of familial hypercholestrolemia(FH)and atherosclerosis(AS).In general,choles-terol in blood is mainly combined with low-density lipoproteins(LDL),very low-densitylipoproteins(VLDL)and high density lipoproteins(HDL).About 60%-80% cholesterolexists in LDL and VLDL.LDL and VLDL have been recognized as the principal

COVID-19: Africa’s Challenge and the Need for a Paradigm Shift on the Use of Ventilators

Background: The December 2019 Chinese epidemic of Corona Virus Disease [COVID-19], which erupted in Wuhan, South China, was declared a pandemic, by the World Health Organization [WHO], on 12th January 2020. The worldwide spread from China was rapid, but Africa was the last port-of-call. Her first diagnosed case was two months after China’s, on 14th February, 2020 in Egypt. The morbidity and mortality rates have, however, remained lower in Africa than in the developed world, and analysts believe that it was more of a temporary respite, since Africa’s poor health infrastructure will become her eventual albatross. Methodology: Data were collected on COVID-19 and records of the socio-economic capacity of Africa by accessing the relevant previous and current peer-reviewed publications from multiple search engines on internet. The data were, then, collated and comparatively analyzed. Results: The available data revealed that Africa had, mostly, the milder forms of COVID-19, and so, morbidity and mortality were low. Her shrinking elderly population and hot climate were believed to be contributory, but lately, as the pandemic spread, the role of these factors was not exactly predictive. Being low on healthcare infrastructure, Africa could tenaciously leverage on the supportive and preventive measures prescribed by WHO, while the world awaited a vaccine. The role of ventilators in the care of critically ill patients, also, came under scrutiny as some workers were questioning the underlying pathology, and advocating a paradigm shift from high-tech positive end expiratory pressure ventilation to plasmapheresis and packed cell transfusion. Conclusion: Africa faces a huge challenge with COVID-19, but the predicted heavy mortalities may be reduced by some local confounding factors, control of spread and re-focusing of critical care away from the expensive and unavailable ventilators.

Immunoadsorption therapy reduces oxidative stress in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Several literatures have reported that the elimination of autoantibodies by immunoadsorption (IA) therapy induced short- and long-term improvements in cardiac function of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We assessed whether reduction in oxidative stress was related to the mechanism underlying left ventricular functional benefit from IA. We studied 7 patients with DCM (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III/IV). Autoantibodies were removed with IA by passing patients’ plasma over tryptophan columns. The level of anti-β1-adrenoreceptor (AR) autoantibodies was measured by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. The level of diacron- reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROM) was determined as a marker of oxidative stress. During IA, the anti- β1-AR autoantibodies titers of all the patients decreased significantly from 27.8 ± 5.0 to 18.7 ± 5.5 U/ml (p < 0.01). IA induced the following hemodynamic improvements: cardiac index increased from 1.71 ± 0.40 to 1.97 ± 0.41 l/min/m2 and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 22.8 ± 6.1 to 29.1±9.1% (p < 0.05). d-ROM level decreased significantly from 392.7 ±17.0 to 314.1 ± 22.0 Carratelli units (p < 0.05), and was negatively correlated with LVEF before and after IA therapy (r = -0.601, p < 0.05). The anti-β1-AR autoantibodies, LVEF and d- ROM returned to the baseline levels at 12 months after IA. In conclusion, oxidative stress reduction may be responsible for the beneficial effect of IA therapy in patients with DCM.