Plasmapheresis is a method of removing blood plasma from the circulation. During the procedure, blood cells are not removed, but the plasma is replaced with blood-substituting fluids. At the same time, harmful substances (inflammatory mediators, cholesterol, lipids, endotoxins) are removed from the body together with plasma, blood viscosity decreases, sensitivity to drugs increases, and immunity is corrected.
What is plasma?
It is known that blood consists of red and white blood cells, platelets (platelets) and fluid in which these cellular elements are present in suspension. Such a liquid is a solution of proteins and electrolytes and is called "plasma" (the photo is available in the article).
Methods of plasma purification
Plasma purification can be carried out with the power of gravity forces or special filters. In the first case, the blood is passed through a centrifuge, in the second case, porous membrane filters are used.
Membrane plasmapheresis is used to separate plasma from blood. During the procedure, ballast cells and toxic substances are removed from the blood. To do this, the plasma is distilled through special filters. Membrane plasmapheresis is a fairly effective method of treating various diseases, as a result of which the internal environment of the human body changes. Medicines in such a situation are powerless.
Such ailments include:
- injuries;
- extensive burns;
- acute inflammatory processes of internal organs;
- intoxication;
- severe infections.
With the help of membrane plasmapheresis, immunity is normalized, hematopoietic cells are activated, the healing process is accelerated, blood flow in the capillaries is accelerated, the likelihood of death is significantly reduced.
When the blood is purified from immune bodies, the symptoms of autoimmune diseases are eliminated. By clearing the blood of excess fat, it is possible to alleviate the course of atherosclerosis. Membrane plasmapheresis improves the patient's well-being after radiation or chemotherapy. It is very effective in conditions such as narcological diseases, Rh conflict in pregnant women, urogenital infections, and the recovery period after viral hepatitis. Plasmapheresis makes it possible to minimize the likelihood of secondary complications of diabetes.
Cascade plasmapheresis is a method of blood purification, which consists in passing plasma through a special filter with fairly small pores. During the procedure, the plasma is cleared of large molecules of fats and proteins. This technique was developed back in 1980 by Japanese scientists. Today it is widely usedfor the treatment of atherosclerosis with a large amount of lipids in the blood, as well as for the prevention of pathologies such as heart attack, aneurysm, stroke. The benefits of cascade plasmapheresis have been proven in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, multiple myeloma and many other ailments.
Donor and therapeutic plasmapheresis
Donor plasmapheresis is a procedure that involves taking plasma from a donor (i.e. from he althy people). The amount of material taken is strictly regulated by the laws on donation. The blood withdrawn from the human body is passed through a special apparatus, the shaped elements are poured back, and the resulting plasma is subjected to conservation and used to create blood products or subsequent transfusion.
During the treatment procedure, up to 30% of the patient's blood is processed at a time. It is removed from the body in portions, passed through the apparatus and poured back in a purified state.
Indications for the procedure
Plasmapheresis is not a wellness procedure that can be performed by everyone. This is an additional auxiliary treatment when the main therapy does not give the desired result.
In addition to the above conditions, plasmapheresis treatment is indicated for:
- alcoholism;
- addiction;
- bronchial asthma;
- oncological diseases;
- coronary heart disease;
- angina;
- arterial hypertension;
- thromboembolism;
- trophic ulcers of the digestive tract;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- liver failure;
- glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome;
- drug-resistant hypertension;
- septic shock with purulent processes;
- dermatological ailments.
Contraindications
Absolute contraindications to this procedure are duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer, accompanied by bleeding, and bleeding disorders.
Relative contraindications include:
- traumatic, anaphylactic and other types of shock;
- severe liver pathology, acute form of infectious hepatitis;
- patients over 70 with anemia associated with heart disease;
- poorly expressed peripheral venous network.
Possible side effects
In general, the procedure is well tolerated. Very rarely, a migraine-like condition or mild nausea can be observed. However, such unpleasant phenomena pass on their own after a short time.
The procedure poses a serious danger only in case of poor blood clotting in the patient: bleeding may occur. When processing blood to prevent its clottinguse anticoagulants. With poor clotting, such an additive can cause complete non-clotting.
Applied equipment
Devices with which plasma is separated (photo on the right) are portable and stationary. The first allow you to conduct a plasmapheresis session even at the patient's home. Modern devices take small portions of blood and purify them one by one. Portable equipment is convenient in that it can be easily moved and installed near the patient's bedside, without transferring it to another room for the procedure.
After only 40 ml of blood is taken, the blood flow is blocked by a special valve. The blood is purified and returned back to the body. Then comes the intake of a new portion. Therefore, during the procedure, no discomfort is felt.
A good device is able to purify and return up to 100 ml of blood to the patient's body in just a minute. At the same time, about 800 ml of plasma can be obtained per hour.
Procedure progress
The duration of the procedure is about 90 minutes. No discomfort is felt during its implementation. The patient is placed in a special chair, catheters are inserted into the veins of both arms. Further, the patient can listen to music or watch TV, if available in the clinic. The device will do the rest. While the procedure lasts, the patient's condition is constantly monitored: his pressure, respiration, pulse and the presence of oxygen in the blood are measured.
In one session, up to 25-30% of the blood can be cleared, so complete cleaning requires at least 3procedures. The amount of blood that will be cleared during the session, the doctor determines on an individual basis, taking into account the patient's body weight, age and general condition of the body.
Blood cleansing is a complex procedure, therefore, after its completion, the patient should be under the supervision of a specialist for 30-60 minutes.
Plasmapheresis can be done without any special preparation. And after the procedure, no special recommendations need to be followed. However, in some cases, the doctor may give specific advice.
Plasmapheresis during pregnancy
The procedure can be prescribed in the process of preparing for conception and for prevention, as well as one of the methods of treatment. Before pregnancy, this technique is used to remove poisons that have accumulated in the body of a smoking woman. If during the period of bearing a baby a woman suffers from severe toxicosis, then two sessions of plasmapheresis will help to significantly improve the condition of the expectant mother.
Plasmapheresis enables women with severe toxicosis and placental insufficiency to successfully endure and give birth to a he althy baby.
This procedure reduces the risk of problems such as intrauterine infection, low birth weight and oxygen starvation by 1.5 times. Plasmapheresis minimizes the likelihood of bleeding during childbirth, as the composition of the blood normalizes and the likelihood of thrombosis decreases.
In case of severe forms of preeclampsia, this method gives very good results. The benefits of plasmapheresis have been proven in the following cases:
- recurrent forms of preeclampsia;
- insufficient effectiveness of drugs;
- severe swelling.
Up to 40% of blood is processed during a session. It is necessary to carry out 2 or more procedures with a frequency of 3-4 days.
Is the procedure dangerous?
Plasmapheresis is a virtually safe procedure.
- Use only disposable tubes, catheters. All kits are absolutely sterile and sealed.
- The patient is constantly under medical supervision.
- The procedure is painless. Circulatory disturbances do not occur in the process: when the myocardium contracts, blood is withdrawn from the body, and when it expands, it is poured back.
- Plasmapheresis does not use drugs that can cause complications or side effects. Use saline to flush tubes that carry blood.
Plasmapheresis: cost of the procedure
Before you decide on a plasmapheresis procedure, you need to make sure that the clinic has a good reputation. You should only contact specialized medical institutions with solid experience in carrying out this procedure. It should only be carried out by experienced professionals who have undergone special training. You should be alerted by suspiciously low prices for plasmapheresis. The cost of one session in Moscow clinics is in the range of 4-5 thousand rubles. The price of a course of 5 plasmapheresis procedures averages 19-22 thousand rubles.
