Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 25: Yenepoya Medical College Hospital achieved a significant medical milestone by successfully performing its first Centrifugation-based Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (cTPE) on a patient diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO).
A 19-year-old female with AQP4-positive NMO presented with sudden complete vision loss in her left eye—her only functional eye. She showed no response to intravenous pulse steroids, placing her at high risk of permanent blindness. In response, the Neurology team, in collaboration with the department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion (IHBT), initiated Centrifuge-Based Therapeutic Plasma Exchange(cTPE) using an aphaeresis machine.
cTPE works by rapidly separating and removing plasma components, effectively eliminating pathogenic antibodies such as anti-AQP4.It offers superior plasma removal efficiency, faster processing time with lower rate of side effects. cTPE directly removes antibodies from the bloodstream, making it more efficient compared to IVIg therapy. Early initiation of TPE is known to significantly improve recovery outcomes.
Multidisciplinary team effort
The team included Dr Salma Suhana and Dr Vignesh from the department of neurology, Dr Poorna (Critical Care Medicine), Dr Aejaz (Anaesthesia) and Dr Vidya Hegde (Ophthalmology). The procedure was conducted under the guidance of Dr Vidya Rekha R Kamath, chief of YMCH Blood Centre. Following five cycles of cTPE, the patient demonstrated marked visual recovery.
A new standard for local healthcare
This successful case underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in managing complex neuro-inflammatory disorders like NMO. It also highlights the growing expertise of the YMCH Blood Centre in delivering advanced therapeutic procedures.
“Performing cTPE requires high technical precision and continuous clinical monitoring. By offering this service locally, we can provide timely, life-changing care to patients who would otherwise need to travel long distances during neurological emergencies,” the medical team noted.