Double Filtration Plasmapheresis for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Study of 21 Cases

Abstract: The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis remains difficult and often controversial. Plasma exchange has been advocated in some cases. In the present study 71 sessions of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) were performed in 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in an average of 3.7 ± 1.1 sessions per patient within 1–2 weeks. Seven patients had received prednisone, and all the patients had received nonsteroid anti‐inflammatory drugs with poor results. Although after the DFPP therapy, only 2 patients were still receiving nonsteroid anti‐inflammatory drugs, the function capacities improved in all patients. Five out of 8 positive rheumatoid factors became negative for the group. These results suggest that DFPP could be a regular therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.