Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical effect of hemoperfusion in treating patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods A total of 36 patients with SSc at the stage of swelling or sclerosis in our hospital during Feb. 2014 to Jun. 2014 were enrolled in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: hemoperfusion group (n=19) and conventional group (n=17). The patients in conventional group were treated with prednisone 5～15mg/day, penicillamine 0.25～0.5g/day, and the traditional Chinese medicine of blood circulation activation. The patients in hemoperfusion group were treated with hemoperfusion 2~3 hours, once a week for 4 weeks, in addition to the medications in conventional group. Laboratory indexes including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), whole-blood viscosity (BV), plasma viscosity (PV) and index of erythrocyte aggregation (IEA) were compared before and after the treatment in the two groups. Moreover, modified Rodnan skin score and Furst’s internal organs score were also compared between the 2 groups. Results In hemoperfusion group, modified Rodnan skin score, Furst’s internal organs score, ESR, IgG, BV, PV and IEA were lower than the scores before the treatment, as well as the scores after the treatment in conventional group (P＜0.05). However, IgM value was statistically indifferent before and after the treatment in hemoperfusion group. Conclusions Hemoperfusion can improve clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes in patients with SSc.

Key words: Hemoperfusion, Systemic sclerosis, Immunoadsorption, Treatment outcome