Plasma Exchange?

[Denise]

I am in the middle of my 7th week doing plasma exchange. I was wondering if anyone else has tried it?

 

Denise

[KristaRN]

I've seen this used once on a young mother with MS. She came in not able to walk at all, did plasma exchange for I think about a week, once daily or every other day, and left skipping with her kids. It was pretty amazing.

 

Krista

[janey]

Denise,

I can't give any personal experience but I was able to find a study back in 2001 that showed "Our data suggest that long-term PEX therapy seems to be effective in slowing down the clinical course of patients with severe and rapidly progressive SSc." Here's the study if you would like to read it. Long-term therapy with plasma exchange in systemic sclerosis Apparently, even though it has been shown to be effective there just hasn't been much on it. I found another study backed in 1988 that showed positive results, but not much since then until 2001. Weird!

 

How is it working for you? Have you had any test that have shown improvements? I certainly hope it is working for you. What made your doctor go this route? Just curiosity on my part.

Please keep us informed on how you are doing.

 

Big Hugs,