The ABC of apheresis

Abstract

Apheresis is a collective term for several activities in which a desirable specific blood component is separated and collected or a harmful component is removed. During the last decades the application of apheresis has expanded to a broad spectrum of diseases due to various studies on the clinical efficacy of this therapy as well as the innovation of new techniques. However, adverse events quite often occur during apheresis. In this article we will give a brief overview on general principles, indications and complications of apheresis.

Keywords:

• Apheresis
• Cytapheresis
• Plasmapheresis
• Therapeutic plasma exchange