The role of plasmapheresis in adult respiratory distressed syndrome due to meningococcemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation - a case report

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present case report is to assess the efficiency of plasmapheresis in patients detected with meningococcemia since this procedure seems to lower circulating levels of endotoxin while it may also eliminate activated complement, clotting factors and lysosomal enzymes resulting from thromboplastin and activated granulocytes. Objective: Pay attention to plasmapheresis in Adult Respiratory Distressed Syndrome (ARDS) due to meningococcemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Material and methods: A 23-year-old woman with no prior medical history has been monitored for 14 days after being admitted with a 12-hour history of vomiting, headache, confusion, and hypothermia (35.6ºC). Results: Plasmapheresis had been used as adjunctive therapy during septic shock. Conclusion: Patient was treated with five sessions of plasmapheresis and recovered without sequelae. No complications associated with this procedure were observed.

Plasmapheresis reduces cytokine and immune cell levels in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

“…Previous studies have reported that plasmapheresis could be a useful adjunct to mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure. 36 , 37 In addition, clinical studies show that blood purification techniques, play a key role in effectively reducing the mortality of patients with severe COVID-19. 7 However, the evidence to date is insufficient to recommend the routine use of plasmapheresis to correct the hypoxemia, which can lead to multiorgan dysfunction due to advanced modes of treatment.…”

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Protects Patients with Sepsis-Associated Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation by Improving Endothelial Function

“…In the treatment of a patient with meningococcemia with DIC, TPE can eliminate the activation of complement, coagulation factors, and lysosomal enzymes rather than reduce the concentration of endotoxin in the patient’s blood, thereby restoring the normal coagulation mechanism and correcting the abnormality of DIC and coagulation index. 12 However, the protective mechanism of TPE in sepsis-associated DIC patients is still unclear, and it is worthy of further study.…”