Clinical efficacy of haemorheological treatment using plasma exchange, selective adsorption and membrane differential filtration in maculopathy, retinal vein occlusion and uveal effusion syndrome

The aim of the study was to test the clinical efficacy of haemorheological treatment with extracorporeal techniques in ocular diseases. We treated patients suffering from maculopathies of different origin: age-related (AMD, n = 17), uveitis-associated (n = 14) and myopia-associated maculopathy (n = 5). We also treated patients with uveal effusion syndrome (n = 3) and central retinal vein occlusion (n = 4) resistant to haemodilution or steroid therapy. The treatment consisted of plasma exchange, selective adsorption with a tryptophan-polyvinylalcohol adsorber and membrane differential filtration. Maculopathy patients underwent two treatments while the other patients received between 1 and 7 treatments. Pulsatile ocular blood flow was measured in 10 patients from central retinal vein occlusion and uveal effusion syndrome was proven, even when the patients were resistant to previous haemodilution or steroid therapy. We conclude that a theological approach should be considered before invasive methods such as laser coagulation, radiation therapy or surgery are applied. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.