Table of Contents
What diseases are treated with plasmapheresis?
Today, plasmapheresis is widely accepted for the treatment of severe myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy. Its effectiveness, however, in other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, polymyositis and dermatomyositis, is still being studied.
What is the goal of the plasmapheresis treatment?
The goal of TPE is to remove large amounts of disease-causing agents, such as these antibodies, that attack the body and cause symptoms.
What is the requirement of plasmapheresis?
Patients require either a double-lumen central venous catheter or two large-bore antecubital peripheral lines. Plasmapheresis can be performed using a semipermeable membrane-based device in combination with hemodialysis equipment.
Does plasmapheresis lower your immune system?
By depleting the body of inflammatory factors, plasmapheresis may give the immune system an opportunity to re-adjust itself. This may be possible in part via induction of regulatory T cells through reducing the inflammatory cytokines found in the patients’ plasma.
What are the side effects of plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis does not have any substantial side effects. It is a painless procedure but may involve some level of discomfort. The most common side effect is low blood pressure, which can cause drowsiness, nausea, coldness, sweating, abdominal cramps, or blurred vision for a brief period.
What are the complications of plasmapheresis?
The adverse side effects observed most frequently during plasma filtration were: fall in arterial blood pressure (8.4% of all procedures), arrhythmias (3.5%), sensations of cold with temporarily elevated temperature and paresthesias (1.1%, each). In most cases the symptoms were mild and transient.
What is the indication of plasmapheresis?
Indications for which plasmapheresis is accepted second-line therapy: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Multiple sclerosis: acute CNS demyelination unresponsive to steroids. Rapidly progressive vasculitis.
How will I feel after plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is safe, but comes with potential side effects. You may feel pain or discomfort at a needle injection site on your arm, as well as occasional fatigue, low blood pressure, or a cold and tingling sensation in your fingers or around your mouth. Notify your nurse if you have any of these symptoms.
How quickly does plasmapheresis work?
Plasma exchange takes between 2 and 4 hours. A person will need to remain as still as possible to help the blood to flow smoothly.
How safe is plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a safe procedure with a few possible side effects. You may have discomfort at the needle site and occasional fatigue, low blood pressure, dizziness, feeling cold and tingling in the fingers and around the mouth. Notify your nurse immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Does plasmapheresis remove all antibodies?
Plasmapheresis is a process that filters the blood and removes harmful antibodies. It is a procedure done similarly to dialysis; however, it specifically removes antibodies from the plasma portion of the blood.
How long does it take plasmapheresis to work?
Improvement can occur within days or weeks, depending on the condition being treated. Benefits usually last for up to several months but may last longer. Over time, autoantibodies may again be produced by the body. Because of this, plasmapheresis is mainly used as a temporary treatment.