Plasmapheresis in neurological diseases

1. Big picture

Plasmapheresis, clinically usually called plasma exchange (PLEX), is an acute immunotherapy used in neurological diseases where circulating pathogenic antibodies, immune complexes, complement, or inflammatory plasma factors contribute to the disease.

The key exam sentence:

Plasma exchange is useful in antibody-mediated immune neurological diseases, especially myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, CIDP, severe NMOSD attacks, and selected autoimmune encephalitis or demyelinating relapses.

It is not useful for degenerative motor neuron diseases such as ALS or spinal muscular atrophy.

2. Definition

**Plasmapheresis / plasma excha