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Neuroimmunology

Assessing the value of plasma exchange in neurology

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The American Academy of Neurology has updated its 1996 assessment of the value of plasma exchange in neurology. The report confirms the efficacy of plasma exchange in inflammatory neuropathy and possibly acute CNS demyelinating disease, but not in pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. Its conclusions, however, are limited by inadequate evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, PO Box 114, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    Richard Hughes

  2. Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany

    Hans-Peter Hartung

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  1. Richard Hughes
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  2. Hans-Peter Hartung
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Correspondence to Richard Hughes.

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Competing interests

R. Hughes is a consultant for Baxter, LFB, Talecris and Octapharma.

H.-P. Hartung is a consultant and speaker for, and receives grant/research support from, Biogen Idec, Bayer Schering, Novartis, Merck Sorono and Teva.

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Hughes, R., Hartung, HP. Assessing the value of plasma exchange in neurology. Nat Rev Neurol 7, 309–310 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2011.59

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