If you are sick, your plasma tends to contain antibodies that attack your own immune system. The affected plasma is removed and replaced with a plasma substitute or good plasma in a process called plasmapheresis. Houston plasmapheresis helps critically ill patients suffering from infections as well as organ transplant recipients.

Good plasma is donated by healthy individuals.  The process includes a machine that is used to carry out the plasma exchange during plasmapheresis in a process that is similar to kidney dialysis. A catheter or needle is placed into a vein of whichever arm that has a robust artery. The catheter may also be placed in the shoulder or groin.

The returned or replaced plasma flows back into the donator’s body through another tube placed in the foot or arm. Sessions take up to 90 minutes. Federal regulations outline that one person can donate plasma a maximum of two times per week.

If you are a recipient of plasmapheresis as treatment, the procedure lasts between one to three hours. As many as five treatments may be needed per week. The treatment frequency varies widely from condition to condition and is also determined by your overall health. Hospitalization is necessary, but outpatient treatment may sometimes be recommended.

How to Prepare for Plasmapheresis

Before the process begins, you will first undergo tests to determine your oxygen levels, blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. There are several measures that you can take to optimize the success of plasmapheresis, including:

• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Having a nutritious meal before donation or treatment
• Having a good night’s sleep the night before the procedure
• Eating diets high in protein and low in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium in the days leading to the procedure
• Avoiding tobacco use and smoking

The Benefits of Plasmapheresis

Patients receiving plasmapheresis as treatment for autoimmune disorders begin to feel relief in the first few days following the procedure. For some conditions, a few weeks may pass by before you notice changes in the symptoms. If you have an autoimmune condition, plasma exchange prevents your body from producing other harmful antibodies.

Often, the process needs to be repeated so as to ensure long-term relief. Your doctor can give you a general idea of how frequently to use plasmapheresis in order to achieve maximum efficiency. The length and frequency of the process are highly dependent on your specific condition and its severity.

The Risks of Plasmapheresis

There are certain side effects associated with plasmapheresis. The risks are usually rare and very mild. A drop in blood pressure is the most common symptom. It is often accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Dizziness
• Blurry vision
• Faintness
• Stomach cramps

One uncommon but serious risk includes bleeding as a result of anti-clotting medications. Other severe risks are abdominal cramps, seizures, and tingling within the limbs. Plasmapheresis can be characterized by the following risks:

• Allergic reaction: The solutions used in replacing plasma sometimes cause allergic reactions within a patient’s body system.
• Infection: Procedures that involve blood transfer into or out the body pose risks of infection.  
• Blood clotting: An anticoagulant may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Plasmapheresis may be inappropriate for certain people, including people who are:

• Hemodynamically unstable
• Allergic to frozen plasma or albumin
• Allergic to heparin