[Indications of urgent plasma exchange and cytapheresis therapies--a review based on literature data and personal experience].

Emergency plasma exchange therapy is life saving in many cases. Therefore, clinicians must be aware of the indications at which any delay in initiating therapy may prove to be fatal. Different hematological (Moschkowitz-, hyperviscosity- and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome; massive haemolysis [e.g Wilson's disease]), neurological (myasthenic), endocrine (thyrotoxicosis) and nephrological (rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis) crisis situations and for prevention of them; certain poisonings, fulminant liver failure, severe pancreatitis due to chylomicronaemia, meningococcus sepsis and iatrogenic or suicidal drug-overdose. In this latter, it is of fundamental importance that the protein binding of the drug should be high (>80%), whereas the volume of its distribution should be relatively low (<0,2 l/kg body weight) and the endogenous clearance of it should be less, than 500 ml/min. Urgent leukocytapheresis should be performed above 50.000 blasts/microl, in acute or chronic myeloid leukemia if symptoms of leukostasis are present (if blasts are above 100.000/microl, cytoreduction is mandatory even without symptoms). Similarly, urgent thrombocytapheresis should be administered above platelet numbers 1000 G/l, when there is concomitant thrombophilia or clinical symptoms of thrombostasis are present.