Aferesis

Aferesis, also known as apheresis, is a medical procedure that involves the separation of blood components. During apheresis, blood is drawn from a donor or patient and passed through a special machine that separates it into different parts, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. The desired component is then collected, and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor or patient.

This process is used for several medical purposes. It can be used to collect specific blood components from a donor for transfusion to a patient who needs them, such as platelets for cancer patients or plasma for individuals with clotting disorders. Apheresis can also be used therapeutically to remove harmful substances or components from a patient's blood. For example, it can be used to remove excess cholesterol in cases of severe hypercholesterolemia, or to remove autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barré syndrome.

The procedure is generally safe, though like any medical intervention, it carries some risks. These can include temporary side effects like fatigue, bruising at the needle insertion site, or a temporary drop in calcium levels. The specific type of apheresis performed depends on the medical reason for the procedure. Common types include plateletpheresis, plasmapheresis, and leukapheresis, each targeting a different blood component. Apheresis is a valuable tool in modern medicine, enabling both the collection of vital blood products and the treatment of various conditions.