[Treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome by the method of fractionated plasma exchange with controlled hemodilution]. / Leczenie zespolu Guillaina-Barrego metoda frakcjonowanej wymiany osocza w hemodilucji sterowanej.

Plasma exchange under controlled haemodilution was tried in 9 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome repeating the procedure at 24-hour intervals for from 7 to 17 times with a total exchange of plasma ranging from 2.0 to 4.9 litres. All patients had significant paresis or paralysis of all four extremities, and 3 had additionally respiratory failure. The criteria accepted for performing plasmapheresis included a very severe form of the disease and a steady progression of signs despite treatment with corticosteroids. Already after the first exchange of plasma arrest of disease progression was observed in all cases, and after the 2nd or 3rd exchange a progressing improvement began. Six patients regained the ability of walking within 4 to 8 weeks, all were discharged walking unaided. The obtained results suggest the conclusion that the therapeutic method used is a very effective way of treating severe cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome and should be used in these patients.