Autoimmune diseases (commonly known as rheumatic diseases): systemic lupus erythematosus, polyarteritis nodosa, dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. Most of these patients have autoantibodies in their bodies, as well as immune complexes. Plasma exchange therapy can remove various autoantibodies and immune complexes. Especially in the early stage of the disease, when a large number of antibodies exist in the patient’s body but have not yet caused tissue or organ damage, plasma replacement should be performed as early as possible to reduce tissue and organ damage and improve symptoms. For those patients with severe and life-threatening disease who do not do well with hormones and immunosuppressants, plasma replacement in combination with immunosuppressants (e.g. cyclophosphamide) can control the development of the disease and improve the symptoms. In hematologic diseases: autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hemolytic uremic syndrome, etc., plasma exchange can rapidly remove anti-red cell antibodies from the patient’s body and reduce the occurrence of hemolysis; in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, plasma exchange is the most effective method at present, which can rapidly remove microscopic thrombi from the patient’s body and save the patient’s life. After plasma replacement, patients with hyperviscosity syndrome can remove excess proteins and lipids from their bodies and improve
Prognosis.