Therapeutic plasma exchange is also called plasmapheresis and apheresis.
Plasma exchange therapy is used to treat several neurological diseases, includingmultiple sclerosis (MS).
Therapeutic plasma exchange is a fairly painless procedure.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
This article covers exactly what therapeutic plasma exchange entails.
The goal of plasma exchange therapy is to remove harmful substances that are circulating in your plasma.
In the case of MS, these are thought to be antibodies against the protein that makes upmyelin.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
It’s also sometimes used for people who are unable to receive high doses of corticosteroids.
The whole procedure takes between two and three hours to complete.
How Effective Is Plasma Exchange Therapy?
The researchers concluded that corticosteroids might still be the first-line therapy in subsequent relapses after therapeutic plasma exchange.
A year after therapeutic plasma exchange, the total number of relapses decreased to two.
Side effects of plasma exchange therapy are more common whendonor plasmais used as the replacement fluid.
Complications
Serious complications from therapeutic plasma exchange are not very common.
This is one of the reasons why plasma exchange therapy is done within a monitored setting.
Blood clotsare another rare serious complication of therapeutic plasma exchange.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe ablood thinnercalled an anticoagulant before your procedure to reduce this risk.
The majority of deaths result from respiratory or cardiac complications.
Contact your insurance provider for more information.
Summary
Therapeutic plasma exchange is generally a safe and well-tolerated procedure.
Still, it is not without potential side effects and risks that are worth knowing about.
it’s possible for you to use our Doctor Discussion Guide below to help you start that conversation.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Plasma exchange therapy is similar to dialysis, but it’s not the same treatment.
Bobati SS.Therapeutic plasma exchange - an emerging treatment modality in patients with neurologic and non-neurologic diseases.JCDR.
2015;10(8):e0134583.
Mount Sinai.Mount Sinai to begin the transfer of COVID-19 antibodies into critically ill patients.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Recommendations for investigational COVID-19 convalescent plasma.
2017;11(8):EC35-EC37.
2017;18(8).
2016;03(03).
2019;98(50):e18308.
Kaplan AA, Fridey JL.Therapeutic apheresis (plasma exchange or cytapheresis): Complications.
Olek MJ, Howard J.Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults.
2016;03(03).
2016;31(3):14962. doi:10.1002/jca.21470
