Plasmapheresis was a term coined by john Jacob Abel in 1914, which mean to take away or withdraw plasma and return of the remaining blood components to the dono, or patient.
Although manual methods were used in the past, only with the introduction of sterile blood bags, disposable equipment and the development of blood cell separators, plasmapheresis became safe and effective.
The main goal of Plasmapheresis is removal of plasma and with that the substance responsible far the pathogenic process.
Current plasmapheresis instruments use microprocessor technology by which the whole procedure can be programmed.
These use optical sensors to detect the desired interface and then collect the blood component.
The great growth of clinical indications for plasmapheresis during the past 20 years reflects the development of this new technology and is also due to a better knowledge of the pathophysiology of diseases.
In this article, current clinical indication for therapeutic plasmapheresis are summarized.
Aravena R, P. ., & Larrondo-Lillo, M. . (2000). Usos clínicos de la Plasmaféresis Terapéutica. Revista Hospital Clínico Universidad De Chile, 11(2), pp. 145–52. https://doi.org/10.5354/2735-7996.2000.80439
