Plasma is removed from blood primarily as part of treatment for various medical conditions, including blood disorders, blood cancers, and neurological diseases, through a procedure called plasmapheresis or plasma exchange.
Here's a breakdown of the reasons:
What is Plasmapheresis/Plasma Exchange?
Plasmapheresis (or plasma exchange) is a medical procedure where blood is removed from the body, the plasma is separated from the blood cells, and then the blood cells are returned to the body, typically with replacement plasma or another fluid. This allows the removal of harmful substances present in the plasma.
Reasons for Plasma Removal:
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Removing Harmful Antibodies: In autoimmune diseases, the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues. Plasma exchange can remove these autoantibodies, providing relief from symptoms. Examples of conditions treated this way include:
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
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Removing Abnormal Proteins: Certain conditions cause the overproduction of abnormal proteins in the plasma. These proteins can damage organs. Plasma exchange helps remove these proteins. For example:
- Waldenström macroglobulinemia
- Multiple myeloma (in some cases)
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Removing Toxins or Metabolic Waste Products: In rare cases, plasma exchange can be used to remove toxins or metabolic waste products from the blood that are causing illness.
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Treating Certain Blood Disorders and Cancers: As indicated in the reference, plasma exchange is part of the treatment regimen for specific blood cancers and blood disorders. The exact mechanism varies depending on the condition.
How Plasma Exchange Works:
- Blood Removal: Blood is drawn from a patient through a vein.
- Separation: The blood is passed through a machine that separates the plasma from the blood cells.
- Plasma Removal and Replacement: The plasma is discarded, and a replacement fluid (typically albumin, saline, or donor plasma) is mixed with the blood cells.
- Blood Return: The reconstituted blood is returned to the patient.
In summary, plasma is removed from blood to eliminate harmful substances like autoantibodies, abnormal proteins, and toxins to treat various medical conditions. This procedure, known as plasmapheresis or plasma exchange, can provide significant therapeutic benefits for patients suffering from specific autoimmune, hematological, and neurological disorders.
