Plasmapheresis Affects T Helper Type-1/T Helper Type-2 Balance of Circulating Peripheral Lymphocytes

: Plasmapheresis not only removes humoral factors, but may also modulate cellular immunity. We investigated whether plasmapheresis influenced T helper type‐1/T helper type‐2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine‐producing‐cell balance in 3 patients with neuroimmunological disease. The production of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), and IL‐4 in the culture supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by anti‐CD3 and anti‐CD28 was assayed. In 2 of 3 patients, plasmapheresis (immunoadsorption or plasma exchange) reduced Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio. The results may suggest that plasmapheresis induces a shift of Th1/Th2 balance in peripheral blood.