Plasmapheresis
What is plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a process used to obtain plasma from blood. It is often used to obtain donor plasma, which is plasma that comes from healthy people and is used to help treat those with medical conditions such as blood disorders, blood cancers, and neurologic disorders.
With plasmapheresis, blood is drawn and then run through a machine that separates the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
When plasmapheresis is completed on a patient, the plasma may be treated and then returned to the body. In other cases, such as when plasmapheresis is used in those with autoimmune diseases, the patient’s antibody-filled plasma is removed and replaced with new plasma.
Those who undergo plasmapheresis lay on a cot and have a needle or catheter placed into the vein in the crux of their arm, the groin, or the shoulder. When plasmapheresis is given as a treatment, it can last between one to three hours.
How can plasmapheresis improve healthcare?
Plasmapheresis offers treatment for those with an autoimmune disease, although the relief is often only short-term—the process must be repeated to continue seeing benefits. Still, plasmapheresis offers a way to keep the body from attacking itself, which can reduce flare-ups and relieve the patient’s symptoms.
Plasmapheresis offers an effective therapy for many acute and chronic diseases, and it may also be used in preparation for surgical procedures or to improve postoperative recovery.