Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis is the removal, treatment and return or exchange of blood plasma or its components, performed as an extracorporeal therapy outside the patient's body. It takes three main forms: autologous plasmapheresis, in which plasma is removed, treated and returned to the same patient for a therapeutic purpose; exchange plasmapheresis, also called plasma exchange or therapeutic plasma exchange, in which a patient's plasma is removed and replaced with donor plasma, albumin or saline; and donation plasmapheresis, in which plasma components are separated, with some returned to the donor and others collected as blood products. The exchange form treats immune system disorders including Goodpasture syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, myasthenia gravis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, rapidly removing harmful autoantibodies from circulation alongside immunosuppressive medication for longer-term management.