[Plasmapheresis for patients with RA].

Effect of plasmapheresis for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Plasmapheresis for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was performed more than ten years, but efficacy of plasmapheresis was not done. In this paper, we discussed efficacy, indications and procedures. We have many procedures of plasmapheresis, 1) plasma exchange, 2) double filtration plasmapheresis, 3) cryofiltration plasmapheresis, 4) immunoadsorption plasmapheresis, 5) salt-amino acid coprecipitation plasmapheresis, 6) lymphocytapheresis, 7) lymphocyte-plasmapheresis, 8) photopheresis. Indications of plasmapheresis for RA are 1) malignant RA, 2) high activity of RA, 3) positive circulating immune complexes, 4) patients can't take steroid hormone or anti-inflammatory drugs. Efficacy of plasmapheresis for RA was not done, then, we must have controlled study about efficacy of plasmapheresis for RA.