Blood Bank Guy Essentials Podcast 025: Therapeutic Apheresis Essentials with Jeff Winters
Jan 16, 2017
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Jeff Winters, editor of the Journal of Clinical Apheresis and director of the therapeutic apheresis service at Mayo Clinic, sheds light on the often misunderstood world of therapeutic apheresis. He shares insights about its significance in treating various medical conditions and explores different apheresis techniques, comparing practices across countries. Dr. Winters emphasizes the collaborative roles of medical professionals in this specialty, all while demystifying plasma exchange and discussing its impact on patient outcomes.
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What Apheresis Actually Is
- Apheresis separates blood into cellular elements and plasma using devices to remove targeted components.
- The procedure returns unwanted components and may require replacement fluid to maintain volume.
Two Separation Technologies
- Two main apheresis technologies exist: centrifugation separates by density and filtration separates by size.
- Centrifugation dominates in the U.S., while filtration and other devices are more common internationally.
International Devices Offer Unique Options
- Some plasma-cleansing columns and adsorption devices exist outside the U.S. but lack FDA approval.
- Those columns can return cleansed plasma and avoid replacement fluid, a capability limited in the U.S.