Symposium 2025

Plasmapheresis is a crucial therapy for acute post-infectious immune-mediated diseases, offering rapid immunomodulation and improved clinical outcomes. In small animal medicine, both standard plasmapheresis and double filtration plasmapheresis are emerging as novel therapeutic options for treating these conditions, where the immune system, triggered by a prior infection, mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues.

One key application is in polyradiculoneuritis in dogs, a Guillain-Barré-like syndrome. Plasmapheresis helps by removing harmful antibodies, reducing disease severity while expediting neurologic recovery. Similarly, in myasthenia gravis, which may be exacerbated by infections, TPE is used during acute crises to remove autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptors.

Post-infectious glomerulonephritis (POGN) and immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) are other conditions where plasmapheresis has been proven effective and superior to medical management alone. In acute POGN, removing immune complexes and autoantibodies prevents damage to the glomerular membrane, reduces proteinuria, and restores renal function. In IMHA, which can follow infections, removing autoantibodies against red blood cells via TPE effectively controls hemolysis.

Lunch will be served in the restaurant of the main building of the hotel.

Patients with persistent symptoms after infections often appear to have a combination of different disease mechanisms:
Many of those affected show signs of intestinal dysbiosis, as well as increased inflammation with oxidative and nitrosative stress and overactive coagulation. Data from our ongoing research project also confirm a neurotransmitter imbalance in patients with post-infectious conditions.

Presented by the team of Ayus Medical Devices.

All guests are invited to dinner with a wonderful view of Lake Constance. There will be plenty of time to exchange ideas and discuss the topics of the day in more depth.

Major widespread diseases such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, dementia and cancer are age-related. Due to demographic developments in our society and improvements in medical care over recent decades, the incidence of these diseases is increasing dramatically. Ageing factors in the blood have been proven to contribute to these diseases. Conversely, diseases often have systemic effects on our entire body and cause it to age more quickly. Here, too, it is obvious to postulate that ageing factors in the blood are partly responsible. This lecture will attempt to provide a brief overview of the topic and explain it using a few examples.

The coffee break will take place directly in front of the hall in the foyer.

Are hidden amyloid fibrin microclots and microparticles driving the pathological symptoms patients with chronic inflammatory diseases experience? Emerging research increasingly identifies microclots as critical markers linked to chronic inflammation. At INUS Laboratories AG, we harness cutting-edge imaging flow cytometry techniques to precisely detect and classify these elusive microclots. While microclots themselves are too large to pass through the revolutionary Inuspheresis® filter, ongoing research investigates whether Inuspheresis® could reduce microclot presence and ease inflammatory symptoms.

Teaser will follow shortly.

By Ayus Medical Devices and IEFM