Neurologic Indications for Therapeutic Plasma Exchange: 2013 Update

Neurologists commonly use therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to treat a number of conditions. This concise review considers the most common neurologic indications for TPE. It focuses on Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis and also the role of TPE in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, paraproteinemic polyneuropathy, Sydenham's chorea, and natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. As with any treatment, the proven efficacy, cost, side effects, and availability must be considered before initiation of therapy.