Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is indicated as a treatment for a wide array of diseases, extensively addressed in the Guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis. In pregnancy, TPE is an... Show moreTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is indicated as a treatment for a wide array of diseases, extensively addressed in the Guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis. In pregnancy, TPE is an uncommon event and application is largely based on extrapolation of efficacy and safety in a non-pregnant population. This review intends to describe the currently available experience of TPE in pregnancy to help clinicians recognise indications during pregnancy and to support current guideline recommendations with literature-based experiences. In order to identify the clinical indications for which TPE is applied in pregnant women, we performed a literature search including studies till November 2019, without a start date restriction. Data extraction included medical indication for TPE and safety of TPE in pregnant women. 279 studies were included for analysis. Nowadays, TPE is predominantly applied for thrombotic microangiopathies, lipid disorders and a variety of autoimmune diseases. The application of TPE during pregnancy remains largely empiric and relies on individual case reports in the absence of high-quality studies and definitive evidence-based guidelines. Safety profile of TPE during pregnancy appears to be comparable to application of TPE in non-pregnant patients. In conclusion, based on the limited evidence that we found in literature with a high risk of publication bias, TPE procedures can be used safely during pregnancy with the appropriate preparation and experience of a multidisciplinary team. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. Show less
Wind, M.; Gaasbeek, A.G.A.; Oosten, L.E.M.; Rabelink, T.J.; Lith, J.M.M. van; Sueters, M.; Teng, Y.K.O. 2021
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is indicated as a treatment for a wide array of diseases, extensively addressed in the Guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis. In pregnancy, TPE is an... Show moreTherapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is indicated as a treatment for a wide array of diseases, extensively addressed in the Guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis. In pregnancy, TPE is an uncommon event and application is largely based on extrapolation of efficacy and safety in a non-pregnant population. This review intends to describe the currently available experience of TPE in pregnancy to help clinicians recognise indications during pregnancy and to support current guideline recommendations with literature-based experiences. In order to identify the clinical indications for which TPE is applied in pregnant women, we performed a literature search including studies till November 2019, without a start date restriction. Data extraction included medical indication for TPE and safety of TPE in pregnant women. 279 studies were included for analysis. Nowadays, TPE is predominantly applied for thrombotic microangiopathies, lipid disorders and a variety of autoimmune diseases. The application of TPE during pregnancy remains largely empiric and relies on individual case reports in the absence of high-quality studies and definitive evidence-based guidelines. Safety profile of TPE during pregnancy appears to be comparable to application of TPE in non-pregnant patients. In conclusion, based on the limited evidence that we found in literature with a high risk of publication bias, TPE procedures can be used safely during pregnancy with the appropriate preparation and experience of a multidisciplinary team. Show less
Wind, M.; Hendriks, M.; Brussel, B.T.J. van; Eikenboom, J.; Allaart, C.F.; Lamb, H.J.; ... ; Teng, Y.K.O. 2021
Objectives SLE and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE/APS) are complex and rare systemic autoimmune diseases that predominantly affect women of childbearing age. Women with SLE/APS are at high risk... Show moreObjectives SLE and/or antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE/APS) are complex and rare systemic autoimmune diseases that predominantly affect women of childbearing age. Women with SLE/APS are at high risk of developing complications during pregnancy. Therefore, clinical practice guidelines recommend that patients with SLE/APS should receive multidisciplinary counselling before getting pregnant. We investigated the clinical effectiveness of implementing a multidisciplinary clinical pathway including prepregnancy counselling of patients with SLE/APS. Methods A clinical pathway with specific evaluation and prepregnancy counselling for patients with SLE/APS was developed and implemented in a tertiary, academic hospital setting. Patients were prospectively managed within the clinical pathway from 2014 onwards and compared with a retrospective cohort of patients that was not managed in a clinical pathway. Primary outcome was a combined outcome of disease flares for SLE and thromboembolic events for APS. Secondary outcomes were maternal and fetal pregnancy complications. Results Seventy-eight patients with 112 pregnancies were included in this study. The primary combined outcome was significantly lower in the pathway cohort (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.20 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.75)) which was predominantly determined by a fivefold risk reduction of SLE flares (aOR 0.22 (95% CI 0.04 to 1.09)). Maternal and fetal pregnancy complications were not different between the cohorts (respectively, aOR 0.91 (95% CI 0.38 to 2.17) and aOR 1.26 (95% CI 0.55 to 2.88)). Conclusions The outcomes of this study suggest that patients with SLE/APS with a pregnancy wish benefit from a multidisciplinary clinical pathway including prepregnancy counselling. Show less
