Hemapheresis - apheresis
The process of withdrawing BLOOD from the body, filtering it through a machine called a cell separator to extract a desired blood component, and returning the rest of the blood to the person. There are two forms of hemapheresis, therapeutic and donor. Therapeutic hemapheresis, also called apheresis, removes damaged or defective components from the blood, which allows the body to naturally replace the components with healthy structures. Donor hemapheresis collects blood components for use in BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.
| CLINICAL APPLICATIONS FOR THERAPEUTIC HEMAPHERESIS | |
|---|---|
| GLOMERULONEPHRITIS | GOODPASTURE’S SYNDROME |
| hyperviscosity | LEUKEMIA |
| MALARIA | MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS |
| MYASTHENIA GRAVIS | organ transplant rejection |
| PEMPHIGUS vulgaris | protein-bound DRUG toxicity |
| RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | SICKLE CELL DISEASE |
| thrombocytosis | thrombotic thrombocytopenic PURPURA |
| transfusion reaction | |
For hemapheresis, the phlebotomist inserts an intravenous needle into a VEIN in each arm. One needle attaches to tubing that allows blood to flow out of the body and into the cell separator. The other needle attaches to tubing that brings the blood back to the body after the cell separator has extracted the appropriate blood product. The entire process takes about two hours for most blood products. Some people find insertion of the needles uncomfortable and may also have chills and mild discomforts during the hemapheresis or for a short time afterward. There are relatively few risks with hemapheresis.
| KINDS OF HEMAPHERESIS | |
|---|---|
| cytapheresis | = removal of cells |
| leukapheresis | = removal of leukocytes (white blood cells) |
| plasmapheresis | = removal of plasma |
| plateletapheresis | = removal of platelets |
See also BLOOD DONATION; HEMOCHROMATOSIS; PHLEBOTOMY.
