Definition

Noun: - A medical procedure in which blood is drawn from a donor or patient, the plasma component is separated and removed, and the remaining blood components (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) are returned to the circulatory system.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical and clinical contexts to describe a therapeutic or donation procedure. - Plasmapheresis is often used to treat autoimmune disorders by removing harmful antibodies from the bloodstream. - The blood bank uses plasmapheresis to collect plasma from healthy donors.

Examples

• The patient underwent weekly to manage the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.
• Compared to whole blood donation, allows donors to give more frequently.
• The efficacy of in treating Guillain-Barré syndrome is well-documented.

Advanced Usage

• Therapeutic Plasmapheresis: Refers specifically to the use of the procedure as a treatment for disease, as opposed to plasma collection for transfusion.
  • Therapeutic plasmapheresis is a cornerstone of treatment for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Variants and Related Words

• Apheresis (Noun): The broader general term for any procedure that involves removing a specific component of blood and returning the remainder to the body. is a type of apheresis.
• Plasma Exchange (Noun Phrase): Often used synonymously with therapeutic plasmapheresis, particularly when the removed plasma is replaced with a substitute fluid like albumin or fresh frozen plasma.

Synonyms

• Plasma exchange
• Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE)

Noun

1. plasma is separated from whole blood and the rest is returned to the donor