Extracorporeal apheresis for autoimmune and connective tissue disorders
Extracorporeal apheresis is a process to remove a specific component from a patient's blood, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of disease. Apheresis is performed with a device such as an automated blood cell separator or an affinity column, which uses whole blood, retains one or more of the components, and returns the remainder of the blood to the donor. Abnormal constituents that are implicated in disease and removed with apheresis include: toxins, metabolic substances, plasma components (such as complement or antibodies), and cellular components (such as leukocytes, granulocytes and monocytes). The theoretical benefit of apheresis is that, by decreasing the concentration of a harmful plasma constituent, the disease course will improve.
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Blood Component Removal
- Connective Tissue Diseases