Apheresis Therapy: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Also known as: therapeutic plasma exchange, TPE, plasma exchange, cytapheresis, plasmapheresis.

What is apheresis therapy: therapeutic plasma exchange?

Apheresis therapy: therapeutic plasma exchange is a medical procedure that’s used to remove certain blood components when problems exist. Therapeutic plasma exchange involves removing problematic plasma from the blood.

What happens during the procedure?

A needle or an IV and catheter are used to draw blood from the patient. Then the blood is placed in a machine that separates the blood into its different components. The plasma is discarded and replaced with donor plasma. Then the blood is placed back into the patient’s body.

Is any special preparation needed?

No special preparation is needed for apheresis therapy: therapeutic plasma exchange.

What are the risk factors?

Discomfort and lightheadedness are possible side effects of apheresis therapy: therapeutic plasma exchange.


Reviewed by: Balagangadhar Totapally, MD

This page was last updated on: December 18, 2020 02:24 PM