Apheresis

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Apheresis

Apheresis (/əˈfɛrɪsɪs/; from the Greek aphairesis, "a taking away") is a medical procedure that involves removing whole blood from a patient or donor and separating the blood into individual components so that one particular component can be removed. The remaining blood is then returned to the system.

Etymology

The term apheresis is derived from the Greek word aphairesis, meaning "a taking away". This refers to the process of removing a specific component of the blood and returning the rest to the donor or patient.

Procedure

During an apheresis procedure, blood is drawn from one arm of a donor or patient and circulated through a machine that separates out a particular component, such as platelets, plasma, or white blood cells. The rest of the blood is then returned to the individual through the other arm. This process allows for the collection or removal of higher quantities of a specific blood component than could be separated from a unit of whole blood.

Types of Apheresis

There are several types of apheresis procedures, including:

  • Plasmapheresis: This procedure removes the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and returns the rest of the blood components to the donor or patient.
  • Plateletpheresis: This procedure removes platelets from the blood and returns the remaining components to the donor or patient.
  • Leukapheresis: This procedure removes white blood cells from the blood and returns the remaining components to the donor or patient.

Uses

Apheresis is used in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, including leukemia, lymphoma, and certain autoimmune diseases. It is also used to collect blood components for donation.

Risks

While apheresis is generally considered safe, there are potential risks associated with the procedure, including vein damage, infection, and reactions to the anticoagulant used to prevent the blood from clotting in the apheresis machine.

See Also

External links

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