Therapeutic plasma exchange vs conventional treatment with intravenous high dose steroid for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neuroscience Center, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Siriraj Neuroimmunology Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. Neuroscience Center, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. doctorkrit@gmail.com. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. doctorkrit@gmail.com. Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. doctorkrit@gmail.com.

Journal of neurology. 2020
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic plasma exchanges (TPE) has been recommended for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) as a rescue therapy after nonresponding from the high-dose steroid and as an early therapy in severe attacks. We performed a systematic review to evaluate whether therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is better than conventional intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients. METHODS Systematic search was conducted in five databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials and observational studies of TPE compared to intravenous steroid in NMOSD patients with neurological or visual outcomes in English without publication date restriction. Quality assessment was performed using ROB2 and ROBINS-I. The meta-analysis was done using a random-effects model. Pooled risk ratio (RR) or mean difference with a 95% CIs of efficacy outcomes included the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), visual acuity, and LogMAR were measured. RESULTS Of 3439 potential studies, seven were included in the systematic review (1211 attacks; 433 patients) and three studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to high dose steroid alone, the add-on TPE increases a chance for the returning of EDSS to baseline at discharge (RR 3.02, 95% CI 1.34-6.81) and last follow-up (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.01-2.79) as well as improves visual acuity at last follow-up. CONCLUSION TPE as an add-on therapy to high-dose steroid injection during an acute attack in NMOSD patients is associated with returning to baseline EDSS at discharge and last follow-up, and a trend to have a lower disability at 6-12 months.
Study details
Study Design : Systematic Review
Language : eng
Credits : Bibliographic data from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine