Plasmapheresis and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
Plasma is a key part of blood, made mostly of water with salts and proteins. Some of these proteins help protect the body from germs, while others help stop bleeding. Plasmapheresis is a medical method to collect plasma from blood. It is often done to get plasma from healthy donors, which can be used to treat certain health problems.
Plasma exchange is when doctors use plasmapheresis to swap someone’s plasma. They take out blood, separate the plasma using a machine, replace it with fluid, mix this new fluid with the blood, and give it back to the person getting treated.
At Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills, our nephrology department provides plasmapheresis and plasma exchange procedures for patients in need.
Need for Plasmapheresis
Doctors utilise this method to address different blood disorders, neurological conditions, and blood cancers such as:
- Multiple Sclerosis: Plasma exchange helps people with multiple sclerosis manage sudden, severe symptoms triggered by harmful proteins in their plasma attacking their body.
- Myasthenia Gravis: In this condition, the body’s antibodies attack muscles causing weakness and paralysis. Plasma exchange removes these problematic antibodies.
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome: This occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks nerves. Plasma exchange filters out the harmful antibodies in the plasma that are targeting the immune system.
- Cryoglobulinemia: This occurs when proteins called cryoglobulins clump in your blood, blocking arteries and causing inflammation and organ damage. Plasma exchange removes these clumps to prevent artery blockage.
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: People with this condition develop blood clots in small arteries throughout their bodies. Plasma exchange removes unhealthy plasma to manage the condition, sometimes using donor plasma instead.
- Waldenstrӧm Macroglobulinemia: This blood cancer occurs when certain cells in your bone marrow or lymph nodes make too much of a large antibody called immunoglobulin M. Plasma exchange is used by providers to filter out this excess antibody from your blood.
- Multiple Myeloma: This blood cancer arises when your bone marrow produces abnormal plasma cells that grow out of control. These abnormal plasma cells produce immunoglobulin chains that can get deposited in the kidneys. Plasma exchange helps providers remove these abnormal immunoglobulin chains from your blood.
Procedure for Plasmapheresis and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
- A needle or intravenous line is inserted into your arm or hemodialysis catheter or central line catheter by the doctor.
- The doctor will then gradually withdraw small quantities of blood.
- He will use a machine or a plasmafilter to separate plasma from the blood.
- Then further plasma is discarded by the doctor.
- Mix blood with fluid or plasma, sometimes adding a protein called albumin, and then return it through an intravenous line or hemodialysis catheter or central line catheter.
Pre-Procedure Care
- Before the procedure, physicians advise patients to consume enough quantities of non carbonated, nonalcoholic beverages for a few days.
- Before the procedure, it is important to consume enough dietary protein to replace the losses of protein during the procedure.
- Doctors also suggest having a meal before the scheduled procedure to prepare.
Post-Procedure Care
- After the procedure, patients might feel tired for the remainder of the day.
- Doctors advise patients to drink plenty of fluids afterward.
- It is recommended to have a family member or friend provide transportation home after the procedure.
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