Therapeutic Apheresis Program
Plasma exchange involves the separation and removal of plasma from the blood in order to remove harmful substances circulating in the plasma. The red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are returned to the patient, along with a prescribed replacement fluid. Simply stated, "old plasma" is removed and is replaced by "new plasma". Alternatively, abnormal red cells, platelets or white cells may be removed or exchanged.
A patient's physician prescribes therapeutic apheresis to control certain hematological, autoimmune and renal diseases including but not limited to the following:
| Apheresis Therapy | Condition(s) Treated |
| Plasma Exchange | Myasthenia Gravis, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. |
| Red Cell Exchange | Malaria, Sickle cell crisis |
| Platelet Depletion | Thrombocytosis |
| White Blood Cell Depletion | Acute Leukemia "Blast Crisis" |
Related Link
- TTP (thrombotic thromocytopenic purpura) &/or HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome)
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) & GBS
For more information, have the patient's physician contact Community Blood Center's Apheresis Department at (816) 968-4067 or after hours they may call (816) 968-4015
