Plasmapheresis removes antibodies from the circulation, producing short-term clinical improvements.
This is done by a procedure that usually entails five exchange treatments of 3 to 4 liters each, carried out over a two-week period. It is used primarily to stabilize the condition of patients in myasthenic crisis or for the short-term treatment of patients undergoing thymectomy. Improvement correlates roughly with reduction in the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titers. Unfortunately, effects are temporary, lasting only weeks. For those rare cases that other methods of treatment do not work, plasmapheresis can be used as a long-term therapy.