Therapeutic Plasma Exchange - Blog #2
- Tammy Rothmaier
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE), also known as plasmapheresis, is a medical procedure that removes and replaces a patient's blood plasma to treat certain diseases. Here are the key aspects of TPE:
Procedure
Blood is removed from the patient through a central venous catheter or IV needles in the arms.
The blood is passed through a machine that separates it into different components: red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.
The plasma, which contains harmful antibodies or substances, is removed and discarded.
The removed plasma is replaced with a substitute, typically donor plasma, albumin, or saline solution.
The blood cells and replacement fluid are then returned to the patient.
Purpose
TPE is used to:
Remove abnormal antibodies, toxins, or proteins from the blood that may be causing symptoms
Replace missing or deficient factors in the plasma
Conditions Treated
TPE is commonly used for:
Neurological disorders: Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), myasthenia gravis
Blood disorders: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hyperviscosity syndrome
Autoimmune diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis
Kidney diseases: Goodpasture syndrome, antibody-mediated transplant rejection
Duration and Frequency
Each session typically lasts 2-4 hours
Patients often require 5-10 sessions, performed every 2-3 days
Effectiveness
One TPE procedure can remove about 65-70% of the disease-causing proteins in the plasma
Multiple procedures are usually needed for clinical improvement
Pod Cast
Quick Summary
Breakthrough Blood Therapy Explained
In the podcast episode “This Breakthrough Blood Therapy Could Add Years To Your Life,” Dr. Mark Hyman discusses plasmapheresis, a blood filtration therapy that may help reverse chronic diseases and combat aging, with Dr. Darshan Shah. Dr. Shah, a longevity medicine specialist and founder of Next Health, shares his personal health journey and explains how plasmapheresis effectively removes inflammatory markers and toxins from the bloodstream, which could potentially address conditions like Alzheimer’s and long COVID. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of combining plasmapheresis with lifestyle changes for the best results.
Disclaimer: This content is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness and is for information purposes only. Consult your Medical Health Provider.
