Removal ability of immunoglobulins in plasma exchange and double-filtration plasmapheresis

The value of plasma exchange (PE) in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is well established. Although no controlled trial has reported on the effect of double-filtration plasmapheresis(DFPP), neurologist in Japan often treat the GBS patients using DFPP. The therapeutic effect probably relates to the removal of circulating factors, which are immunoglobulins. We compared removal ability of immunoglobulins between PE and DFPP. IgG was less effectively removed by DFPP than by PE. We suggest that PE is more beneficial treatment for GBS than DFPP.