Pulsed Plasma Exchange (PPE) Patient 2: 6-Year Update
At this point, there are an estimated two dozen patients world-wide on my pulsed therapeutic plasma exchange (PPE) protocol. As my research fellowship at the Univ. of Wisconsin ended a [...]
Pulsed Plasma Exchange (PPE) treatments must be continued indefinitely
Currently, there are about a dozen systemic sclerosis patients on the pulsed plasma exchange (PPE) protocol described in this document: http://sclerodermainfo.org/pdf/TPE-Guidelines-US.pdf. Some have been on the protocol for years and [...]
ANA and Antibody Testing in Systemic Sclerosis: A Guide for Patients
On Saturday, May 15th, I did a presentation and follow-up Q&A session to a joint meeting of several Scleroderma Foundation chapters on a very important, but complex topic – ANA [...]
Scleroderma Foundation (Southern California Chapter) Talk on Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
We are pleased to announce that our CEO/Founder, Ed Harris, was invited by the Southern California chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation to give a talk on the use of therapeutic plasma [...]
Pulsed Plasma Exchange for the Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis: An Overview for Clinicians
We are frequently asked by patients interested in talking to their doctor about trying therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) how to approach this topic. This can be very challenging, especially since [...]
A Positive COVID-19 Antibody Test is Not a “Get Out of Jail Free” Card!
Note: While this article is not specifically about systemic sclerosis, since there is a lot of interest currently about when people can safely resume normal activities in the midst of [...]
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange: An Oil Change for Your Body?
Recently, in a scleroderma focused Facebook patient support group, a newly diagnosed patient posted this comment after her initial doctor visit: "…he told me that all they can do is [...]
False Positive Scl-70 Results – A Major Problem in Laboratory Testing
Scl-70 antibody testing can be done by a number of different methods. Historically, Scl-70 antibody testing was mostly done by a technique called double immunodiffusion (ID), which is considered to [...]
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) – Additional Questions and Answers
Recently, we have been getting an increasing number of inquiries about the use of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) as a potential treatment for systemic sclerosis (SSc). If any of you [...]
High Magnification Nailfold Capillary Examination for the Diagnosis of Systemic Scleroderma
Diagnosis of systemic scleroderma can often be very challenging. Diagnosis is done by a combination of lab tests (ANA/antibodies) and clinical symptoms such as skin thickening, puffy hands, telangiectasias. Additional symptoms [...]