The plasma exchange service at the National Hospital treats patients with neuroimmunological diseases such as
Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis.
Neurological conditions treated tends to be those with an autoantibody mediated aetiology, these include:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating
- Polyneuropathy
- Myasthenia gravis, plus rarer conditions such as antivoltage-gated potassium antibody-driven pathology
Approximately 50 patients per year undergo plasma exchange. The majority are inpatients from the general wards or the intensive care units at the National Hospital. Waiting times for the more chronic condition treated are approximately three weeks.