[Clinico-immunological assessment of the effectiveness of plasmapheresis in the combined therapy of patients with high arterial hypertension].

After several plasmapheresis procedures 25 out of 28 patients with high arterial hypertension revealed stable BP lowering, accompanied by elimination of their refractoriness to medical therapy. Enhanced sensitivity of lymphocytes to antihypertensive drugs has been established by lymphocyte rosette-formation with allogenic erythrocytes loaded with these preparations. Plasmapheresis was followed by moderate reduction in IgA, IgM and IgG levels with their subsequent recovery to baseline values within 3-7 days. In a number of patients with drug hypersensitivity plasmapheresis contributed to a considerable attenuation of drug-induced allergy and caused a decrease in the initially elevated IgE level. Possible mechanisms of eliminating refractoriness to medical therapy by plasmapheresis are discussed.