Hemotherapy is a type of treatment in which a predetermined amount of a person’s blood is drawn and, after treatment and testing, blood components can be transfused to another person, which helps treat the disease and improve the person.
In addition to hemotherapy, there is also autohemotherapy, in which the blood sample of the person receiving the treatment is taken. However, self-hemotherapy, although it seems to have some benefits, the technique is not recommended by Anvisa, according to a technical note published in 2017 [1], because there are not enough scientific studies to demonstrate its long-term benefits. and the effects on a wider population.
- Hemotherapy is an important procedure in the treatment of cancer and blood disorders.
- Such as hemophilia.
- For example.
- And involves collecting a predetermined amount of blood.
- Which is analyzed.
- Treated and stored in the lab.
In this procedure, blood components are used for transfusion, which may be total blood, plasma or platelets, and can also be used to produce clotting factors and immunoglobulins, which are proteins that act in defense of the body.
In the case of self-hemotherapy, the blood is collected and reapplied to the person’s own muscle, usually in the buttocks, generating a rejection response and promoting the performance of the immune system. The goal of this treatment is to fight diseases by activating the immune system, to further stimulate immunity, the blood could be treated with ultraviolet rays or ozone, for example, before being re-injected.
However, self-hemotherapy is different from self-transfusion, in which the person’s blood is collected in a transfusion bag and, after treatment, is stored in the laboratory for use in the person’s own transfusions.
Apesar da auto-hemoterapia ser uma prática antiga e de haver relatos de que funciona, a sua realização não é reconhecida pelo Conselho Federal de Medicina, Conselho Federal de Farmácia e pela Associação Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, e, portanto, não é autorizada pela Anvisa, devido à falta de evidências científicas.
The beneficial effect of autohemotherapy seems to be related to the fact that it stimulates a rejection response from the body when blood is injected into the muscle, which stimulates the functioning of the immune system. In addition, it is believed that when blood is injected back into the body, the body begins to attack that blood because it contains traces of the disease that develops. When this happens, the body can develop greater resistance to the disease and therefore be able to eliminate it more quickly.
A 2019 study by a group of Spanish researchers [2] studied the effects of autohemotherapy on the treatment of fibromyalgia. To do this, they collected 150 ml of blood and treated it with 150 ml of ozone before being re-injected into the person, because ozone would be able to stimulate the immune system more effectively, in addition to fighting free radicals.
Apesar de terem tido resultados positivos relacionados à melhora dos sintomas, o estudo foi realizado apenas com 20 pessoas, não sendo o suficiente para confirmar os efeitos da auto-hemoterapia na fibromialgia, sendo necessária a realização de outros estudos com uma população maior.
Although discouraged by ANVISA and not recognized as a clinical practice by the medical, pharmacy and the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, research related to self-hemotherapy is encouraged, because in this way, it is possible that there is scientific evidence that it states that indications of practice, contraindications, appropriate dosage, treatment time and adverse effects, for example.
Once sufficient information is available, regulators can re-examine autohemotherapy and evaluate its tolerance and its short- and long-term effects.
The process can be carried out in several situations, most often performed in the treatment of people who have suffered accidents and who have lost a lot of blood, during and after major surgeries and in people with blood-related diseases, such as leukemia, anemia, lymphoma and purple, for example.
Although it has no proven effect, it is thought that it could be used as an alternative treatment for various diseases such as fibromyalgia, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and gout, for example. In addition, it is thought that to enhance the results of these types of therapies, ozone blood or herbal preparations could be added to obtain greater relief from symptoms.
It usually does not pose a risk to the donor and recipient, however, it is important that they are compatible so that there are no reactions related to the transfusion process.
Although it appears to have several benefits for the treatment of various diseases, autohemotherapy is not approved by ANVISA and should therefore not be used.
The risks of self-hemotherapy are related to the lack of information about the procedure, including indications, contraindications, dosage, side effects and the concentration of components that can be added to the blood prior to injection into the muscle. In addition, because the blood is not treated or treated, there is also a risk of transmission of infectious diseases.