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Sunday, October 15, 2017

By Ann Scott


Plasma is a colorless liquid that is the main component of the blood. It has many functions in the body including transporting of substances as well as aiding in blood clotting in case of injuries. It is also prone to the infection by harmful organisms and antigens that may result in decreased effectiveness of the functioning of disease-fighting antibodies. This approach aims at elimination the unhealthy substances through the removal of the fluid itself. The other components of the blood namely the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets remain unaltered. Should such a life-threatening condition occur, Therapeutic Plasma Exchange should be carried out.

It is mostly done as a remedy to treat certain neurological illnesses that cause the creation of antibodies which are harmful to the body. These antibodies are usually contained in the colorless fluid. Diseases that can be rectified by such a procedure include acute pancreatitis, Lambert-Eaton, Myasthenia gravis among other autoimmune diseases. Although it is an effective method it does not fully cure the condition but slows down its progress and increases the chance of resisting the disease.

There is a special device or tool that is used in this mechanism of blood and the fluid separation. This is done by separation and division of blood components which is done by the device where the fluid is let to drain. However, in order to make sure that this process becomes more fruitful and yields more success, it has to be done more than once. It is recommended for the patient to undergo periodical treatments each taking not less than four hours.

This is done by drawing blood from the patient through IV needles that are inserted into arm veins. A connection is established through a special tube where circulation happens through both the person and the device. However, this should be done with closer monitoring of blood clots by use of anticoagulants which do not allow clotting.

The machine separates the colorless fluid and removes it. It is then substituted with either saline or albumin which are designed to function in the same ways as the plasma. It is however not as effective and may require additional calcium and potassium-containing substances. If possible the fluid should be replaced with one donated by another human.

Like any other medical procedure, this exchange is not without risks. If the colorless fluid is replaced with a fluid from a human donor, the body may react to it and cause adverse anaphylactic reactions. When saline and albumin are used, they may contain fewer proteins than the colorless blood fluid thus increasing the risks of infections. Other conditions include low blood pressure and headaches.

This procedure should only be done when there are no other alternatives available. There should be sufficient evidence showing that the symptoms being experienced are as a result of potential abnormalities occurring in the blood.

Although there are some certain risks involved with opting to undertake the exchange, it has been proven to a safe and efficient method of dealing with harmful antibodies in the liquid part of the blood. Death is a very rare occurrence in these procedures making it be relatively safe. Other consequences that arise from the procedure can be dealt with through proper medications.




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