| Theme |
Apheresis |
| Title |
Apheresis therapy in neurological diseases |
| Author |
Yasuhiro Andou |
Division of Nephrology, Jichi Medical School |
| Author |
Nobuhiro Sasaki |
Division of Nephrology, Jichi Medical School |
| Author |
Yasushi Asano |
Division of Nephrology, Jichi Medical School |
| [ Summary ] |
Current progress in neuroimmunology has challenged the classic concept that the central nervous system protected by a blood-brain barrier is rather isolated from the immune system, and immunological processes are demonstrated to underlay a variety of neurological diseases with previously unknown etiology. It is thus convincing that immunomodulation by apheresis therapy will be applied further to refractory neurological diseases, when an involvement of the autoimmune mechanism is suggested. In myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, in which the efficacy of plasmapheresis has already been established, a safer and more effective mode of apheresis needs to be further explored. In this article, neurological diseases treatable with apheresis will be reviewed along with current topics. |