Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Immune Mediated Diseases

Presentation Description / Summary: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal blood purification technique that removes toxic and pathogenic substances from plasma. In animals with immune-mediated diseases, such as immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, autoantibodies and circulating immune complexes play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis, resulting in clinical symptoms like severe anemia. The standard treatment for these conditions usually involves immunosuppression with corticosteroids, either alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents. However, TPE has emerged as a promising adjunctive therapy for severe and refractory immune-mediated diseases in both human and veterinary medicine, particularly in cases that do not respond to conventional immunosuppressive treatment. In this session, I will review current TPE guidelines in human medicine and summarize the existing veterinary literature on its application. Additionally, I will discuss the fundamental principles of TPE, including its mechanisms of action, indications, and procedural considerations for veterinary patients.

Learner Outcomes: By the end of this session, attendees will have a comprehensive understanding of TPE, including its fundamental mechanisms and its role in removing pathogenic substances such as autoantibodies and immune complexes. They will review clinical evidence supporting TPE for immune-mediated diseases in both human and veterinary medicine. Through discussions of clinical case examples, attendees will learn to identify appropriate indications for TPE, especially in patients with severe or refractory disease.