Small volume plasma exchange for Guillain-Barre syndrome in resource poor settings: a safety and feasibility study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Bangladesh, most patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cannot afford standard treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or a standard plasma exchange (PE) course, which partly explains the high rate of mortality and residual disability associated with GBS in this country. Small volume plasma exchange (SVPE) is an affordable and potentially effective alternative form of plasma exchange. SVPE is the repeated removal of small volumes of supernatant plasma over several days via sedimentation of patient whole blood. The aim of this study is to define the clinical feasibility and safety of SVPE in patients with GBS in resource poor settings.

Methods

A total of 20 adult patients with GBS will be enrolled for SVPE at a single center in Bangladesh. Six dail

SUBMITTER: Islam MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5622586 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature