Plasmapheresis is a type of treatment that is used mainly for diseases that increase the number of substances that can become harmful to the body, such as proteins, enzymes or antibodies, for example, so plasmapheresis may be recommended in the case of Thrombotic thrombopenic purpura, Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia severa, which is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive loss of muscle function due to the production of autoantibodies.
This procedure aims to eliminate substances present in plasma through the filtration process.Plasma is about 10% of the blood and consists of proteins, glucose, minerals, hormones and clotting factors, for example.Learn more about blood components and their functions.
- Plasma is the liquid part of the blood and is composed of proteins.
- Such as albumin and antibodies.
- As well as glucose.
- Minerals and clotting factors.
- Some diseases develop with the rise of some of the plasma constituents.
- Making plasmapheresis an effective type of treatment.
- In these cases.
Plasmapheresis is a procedure that aims to filter blood, remove substances from plasma and return plasma to the body without the substances that cause or continue the disease, this treatment is performed in a machine, similar to that of hemodialysis, in which the patient’s blood is drawn.Plasma is extracted and separated. Plasma undergoes a filtration process in which present substances are removed and substance-free plasma is returned to the body.
This procedure, however, filters out all substances present in plasma, both beneficial and harmful, so that the same volume of beneficial substances ingested is replaced by a fresh plasma bag provided by the hospital’s blood bank, thus avoiding complications for the person.
Plasmapheresis is performed by a catheter placed in the jugular or femoral pathway and each session has an average duration of 2 hours, which can be done daily or day by means, depending on the doctor’s advice, depending on the disease to be treated, the doctor may recommend more or less sessions, usually indicated 7 sessions.
While plasmapheresis is a very effective type of treatment, it is important that the person continues to follow the medication indicated by the doctor, since the realization of this procedure does not prevent the production of substances related to the disease, that is, in the case of autoimmune diseases, for example, plasmapheresis is responsible for the elimination of autoanticorps , avoiding further damage to the body, but the production of these antibodies is not paralyzed and the person should use immunosuppressive drugs according to the doctor’s advice.
Plasmapheresis is a safe procedure, but like any other invasive procedure, it carries risks, such as the appearance of a hematoma or an infection at the venous access site, and it is important that it is performed by a trained professional who respects the associated hygiene conditions. .patient safety. Also, due to the elimination of clotting factors in the plasma, the risk of bleeding may be higher, which can be avoided by using the fresh plasma bag.
Transfusion reactions, such as allergic reactions to proteins in transfused plasma, may also occur.
Plasmapheresis is a type of treatment that can be indicated by the doctor in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and myasthenia severe, because in these cases there is a large production of antibodies that act against the body itself, causing the onset and progression of the disease.
In addition, this procedure may be indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purple, in which an excess of antibodies may interfere with the clotting process.Learn more about PTT.