[The therapeutic significance of plasmapheresis in immunologic diseases].

By its rapid and efficient elimination of pathogenic antibodies, antigen-antibody complexes, inflammatory mediators and toxic factors, plasmapheresis may favorably influence the course of several immune diseases. The treatment should be confined to patients who do not react to more conservative therapy, i.e. steroids and/or immunosuppressive agents. Should this attempt at conservative therapy fail, however, plasma exchange should be installed immediately, particularly in severe disease with marked progression or if dosage levels of immunosuppressive drugs must be reduced because of toxicity.