JOHANN O. SCHROEDER, M.D.; HANS H. EULER, M.D.; HELMUT LÖFFLER, M.D.
Two patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus, who had not responded to conventional therapy, were treated with plasmapheresis and subsequent pulse cyclophosphamide. This approach uses the plasmapheresis-induced proliferation of pathogenic clones for partial clonal deletion by giving large doses of cytotoxic drugs during the assumed period of increased B-cell vulnerability. Both patients had a rapid and distinct improvement in clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters, including the control of a life-threatening case of lupus pneumonitis. Their conditions were stabilized by giving low-dose cyclophosphamide for the next 6 months. At 14-month follow-up, there were no clinical signs of relapse.
SCHROEDER JO, EULER HH, LÖFFLER H. Synchronization of Plasmapheresis and Pulse Cyclophosphamide in Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Ann Intern Med. ;107:344–346. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-107-2-344
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1987;107(3):344-346.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-107-2-344
Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatology.
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