Apheresis registry in Sweden: scope, techniques and indications for treatment. A report from the Swedish apheresis study group

Registries of therapeutic apheresis can be used to evaluate changes in technology, clinical indications and applications over the years. This study reports data collected prospectively and voluntarily in Sweden during 1993-1999. A total number of 40 apheresis units have been performing therapeutic apheresis procedures: 16 blood centers, 20 dialysis units, two intensive care units, one hematology ward and one hemotherapy unit. The registry includes a median of 92% of the centers for therapeutic apheresis in Sweden during the years and in 1999 there were 31 active units in 26 hospitals. The total numbers of procedures per year have remained fairly stable corresponding to a median of 46 treatments/100 000 inhabitants, and in 1999 4084 procedures were performed. The number of plasma exchanges has decreased, but LDL-apheresis and immunoadsorption procedures have increased over the Years. 70%, of the patients have been referred for 12 indications. A significant decline was found for patients with SLE and Guillain Barres syndrome. The use of extracorporeal photo-chemotherapy has increased over the years, and 3 indications include > 75% of the patients. There has been an adaptation to the experience learned by different studies. The number of collections of hematopoietic progenitor cells is about 9/100 000 inhabitants, and in 1999 821 collections were performed. The use of allogeneic donors is increasing. The extent of therapeutic apheresis in Sweden was compared to other countries on the basis of published data. In Sweden, the extent of therapy is two- to three-fold to that for Canada and France. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.