Apheresis

The apheresis process is a procedure designed for donors before allogeneic transplantation or alternatively before autologous transplantation. The process involves separating the blood into its components through centrifugation. This means that the blood exiting the vein is concentrated in a machine that separates it into different components, including red blood cells, plasma, platelets, or other cells.

For the procedure, a venous catheter is inserted into the donor's vein, and the desired blood component is collected and separated into a bag, while the rest of the blood components and plasma are returned to the patient/donor.

Types of Apheresis in our center:

1. Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) Collection: A process in which stem cells are obtained from the peripheral blood for transplantation. This can be done from a donor (allogeneic bone marrow donation) or through the collection of autologous cells. The collection is typically performed after 5 days of treatment with neupogen, a biological substance that causes bone marrow stem cells to proliferate and migrate to the peripheral blood for collection.
2. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE): This is a therapeutic process in which the patient's plasma is exchanged with Albumin or Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). Plasma pheresis is usually done to remove disease-causing antibodies.
3. Leukapheresis and Thrombocytapheresis: A treatment performed on patients with leukemia and myeloproliferative diseases to reduce the levels of white blood cells or platelets, in cases where their high count poses a risk to the patient.
4. Granulocyte Donation: In this process, white blood cells are obtained from a healthy donor for the treatment of patients suffering from severe infections after chemotherapy or transplantation and do not respond to antibiotic treatment.
5. Extracorporeal Photopheresis: A therapeutic process given to bone marrow transplant recipients suffering from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The goal of the treatment is to weaken the new immune system (from the donor) and try to induce a sufficient response to stop the disease. The treatment is given once or twice a week for an extended period.

What to Bring:

• A signed consent form for the procedure (Form 17).
• Up-to-date blood test results.