Plasma exchange

Plasmapheresis
Intervention
Plasmapheresis machine
ICD-10-PCS	[1]
ICD-9-CM	99.7
MeSH	D010956
[]

Plasmapheresis (from the Greek πλάσμα—plasma, something molded, and ἀφαίρεσις—aphairesis, taking away) is the removal, treatment, and return or exchange of blood plasma or components thereof from and to the blood circulation. It is thus an extracorporeal therapy (a medical procedure performed outside the body).

Three general types of plasmapheresis can be distinguished:

Plasmapheresis of the autologuous and exchange types is used to treat a variety of disorders, including those of the immune system, such as Goodpasture's syndrome,myasthenia gravis,Guillain–Barré syndrome, lupus, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

During plasmapheresis, blood (which consists of blood cells and a clear liquid called plasma) is initially taken out of the body through a needle or previously implanted catheter. Plasma is then removed from the blood by a cell separator. Three procedures are commonly used to separate the plasma from the blood cells, with each method having its own advantages and disadvantages:

After plasma separation, the blood cells are returned to the person undergoing treatment, while the plasma, which contains the antibodies, is first treated and then returned to the patient in traditional plasmapheresis. Rarely, other replacement fluids, such as hydroxyethyl starch, may be used in individuals who object to blood transfusion but these are rarely used due to severe side-effects. Medication to keep the blood from clotting (an anticoagulant) is given to the patient during the procedure.

Plasmapheresis is used as a therapy in particular diseases. It is an uncommon treatment in the United States, but it is more common in Europe and particularly Japan.