Plasmapheresis is the removal, treatment, and return or exchange of blood plasma or components thereof from and to the blood circulation. It is thus an extracorporeal therapy.

What is plasmapheresis and when is it done?

Plasmapheresis is a medical procedure designed to remove some plasma from the blood. During a plasma exchange, unhealthy plasma is swapped for healthy plasma or a plasma substitute, before the blood is returned to the body.

Why would a patient need plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis treats autoimmune diseases, toxins in the blood, neurological diseases, and very high levels of cholesterol that don't lower with medications or dietary changes. Plasmapheresis removes antibodies against the person's own body cells and tissues (autoantibodies) from the blood.