Clinical Remission After Therapeutic Apheresis in a [ME/CFS] Patient : A Case Report, 2024, Burgard

Clinical Remission After Therapeutic Apheresis in a Patient Suffering from Long Term Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Case Report


Abstract: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating multifactorial illness characterized by profound fatigue persisting for more than six months, post-exertional malaise, cognitive impairments, and a range of systemic symptoms. Until now, no accepted causal treatment regimens have been available; therapeutic options include different approaches, such as alleviation of symptoms and promotion of energy conservation. In this study, we report the case of a 49-year-old female presented to our center suffering from ME/CFS for more than 15 years, characterised by a strong energy loss and neurological and systemic symptoms; previous therapies remained unsuccessful. Therefore, we decided to perform double-filtration apheresis. After comprehensive laboratory evaluation, including investigation of persistent viral infections, the patient was treated eight times with double-filtration apheresis within a period of 2 years, which resulted in a remarkable sustained clinical remission and significant improvement in her quality of life. Therefore, we conclude that double-filtration apheresis could be an effective therapeutic tool for the treatment of ME/CFS.

https://www.dovepress.com/clinical-...ffering--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJ

 

For punters as ignorant as I am, from the National Cancer Institute: "(a-feh-REE-sis) A process in which a machine removes blood stem cells or other parts of the blood from a person's bloodstream then returns the rest to the body."

 

This was posted a couple of weeks ago on Youtube with the papers author discussing CFS/ME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPXXMnXOpgA

 

The paper reads as something written by someone who understands nothing about interpreting immunological tests. It is a sort of shaman with a wand meets high tech lab on a dark night stuff. Unsurprisingly coming from German private practice.

 

Can you give any specific examples of what they got wrong?

 

8 times over a period of 2 years is not a useful result. Way too many factors that could be involved.

 

According to Tom Kindlon on bluesky the person who published this study has a significant Conflict of Interest.

 

Not really, I would have to quote the entire account. It is all meaningless. There was no evidence of inflammation. Autoantibodies to adrenergic receptors are of no known relevance - they occur in normals as much as disease. Assays for immune complex containing C3d were abandoned for clinical use decades ago because nobody knew what the test meant. And so on.

 

And that is plain to see.

 

In anyone going through apheresis for any reason and getting some kind of effect of any kind, it would be interesting to know what was actually filtered out of the patient's blood. If that isn't investigated then it all seems like a complete waste of time from a research point of view.

 

"Long term" seems fairly redundant to me, unless the author is trying to distinguish it from another kind of ME/CFS I haven't heard about.

Not even a raised eyebrow here.