Apheres

Apheres refers to a medical procedure known as apheresis, which is a process of selectively removing specific components from the blood. The word "apheresis" is derived from the Greek word "aphairesis," meaning "taking away." During apheresis, blood is drawn from a donor or patient and passed through a special machine that separates the blood into its various parts, such as plasma, platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells. The desired component is then collected, and the remaining blood is returned to the donor or patient.

This technique is employed for several therapeutic and donation purposes. Therapeutic apheresis is used to treat various medical conditions by removing harmful substances from the blood, such as excess cholesterol, antibodies in autoimmune diseases, or toxic substances in certain poisonings. It can also be used to reduce the number of abnormal cells in conditions like leukemia. In donation, apheresis allows for the collection of specific blood components, such as platelets or plasma, from a single donor in larger quantities than would be possible through whole blood donation. This collected blood component can then be transfused to patients who need it. The procedure is generally safe, with potential side effects being mild and temporary.