Stroke and Gangrene: Complications of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Therapy

Abstract

Two patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange therapy. One patient with advanced rheumatoid arthritis developed a stroke after his fifth exchange. The other patient, with progressive systemic sclerosis, required a below the knee amputation secondary to shunt problems. These cases are presented to caution physicians in selecting patients for pheresis procedures and suggest that major complications can occur with this technique.