The International Apheresis Registry: results of 1983 second pilot.

Results of the second pilot of the International Apheresis Registry for 1983 involving 37 centers on four continents are presented. This report is a follow-up of the initial pilot reported previously and includes the results of 37 additional centers reporting on 659 patients for a total of 5,780 treatments. The results were collected through a single-page questionnaire. Information gathered included patient demographics, medical history, treatment specifics (type, methodology, access type, anticoagulants, drugs), side effects, response, and payment provider. The data are grouped by regions (East, Europe, and North America). Analysis of the data identifies the regional differences in apheresis usage and treatment specifics, suggesting that an international view of apheresis is more representative of this therapeutic modality than national results, which are highly dependent on the local economics and available technology.