Patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 Ab) frequently develop rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia (RPIP), often with fatal outcomes. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been reported as effective against CADM-RPIP refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. However, the detailed mechanisms by which TPE improves disease activity of CADM-RPIP remain unclear.
To elucidate the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with anti-MDA5 Ab-positive CADM-RPIP treated with TPE and to analyze changes in laboratory findings before, during, and after TPE.
Patients hospitalized for CADM-RPIP and treated with TPE in 2017 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.
Three patients were successfully treated with TPE, with good tolerance. Anti-MDA5 Ab titers decreased significantly over the course of TPE.
We emphasize that TPE could represent an effective treatment option for CADM-RPIP refractory to traditional therapy. Removal of anti-MDA5 Ab and other pathogenic factors may facilitate favorable outcomes.

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