Plasma exchange

Plasma exchange removes plasma from a patient's blood and replaces it with donor plasma or another fluid. It can reduce harmful circulating substances while returning blood cells to the patient.

Apheresis: A procedure that separates blood into components and collects or removes selected components. Plasma exchange is one form of apheresis, distinguished by removing plasma while returning blood cells.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A rare disorder in which platelet-rich clots form in small blood vessels, often after severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. Plasma exchange is a central emergency treatment, removing autoantibodies and supplying ADAMTS13.
Therapeutic plasma exchange: A medical treatment that removes a patient's plasma and replaces it with donor plasma or another fluid. This is the clinical name commonly used for plasma exchange performed to treat disease.
Citrate anticoagulation: Use of citrate to bind calcium and prevent blood clotting during extracorporeal procedures. Citrate is commonly used during exchange and can lower blood calcium temporarily.
Centrifugal apheresis: Apheresis that separates blood components by spinning them at different densities. Some plasma-exchange systems use centrifugation to separate plasma from blood cells.
Myasthenia gravis: An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies disrupt signaling between nerves and skeletal muscles. Exchange can temporarily lower pathogenic antibodies during severe worsening or before selected procedures.
Plasma donation: The collection of plasma from a donor for transfusion or manufacture of medicines. Donation collects plasma from a healthy donor; plasma exchange treats a patient by removing and replacing plasma.
Hypocalcemia: An abnormally low concentration of calcium in the blood. Citrate used during exchange may cause tingling, cramps, or other symptoms by binding calcium.
Membrane plasma separation: A method that filters plasma from blood through a semipermeable membrane. This alternative to centrifugation separates plasma by filtration before replacement fluid is infused.
Guillain–Barré syndrome: An acute immune-mediated disorder in which peripheral nerves are damaged, causing weakness and sometimes paralysis. Plasma exchange is an established treatment that can hasten recovery in appropriate cases.

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