Blood diseases occur when one or more blood components do not function properly. These conditions can affect the solid components of blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) or the liquid component (plasma). To address these issues, doctors may recommend apheresis as a therapy for blood diseases.
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Understanding Apheresis for Blood Disease Therapy
Human blood consists of four components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. In some cases, treating a disease requires the removal or modification of one of these blood components through apheresis.
Apheresis is a procedure that allows doctors to extract or remove red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma for medical treatment. This procedure, also known as pheresis or hemapheresis, utilizes a centrifuge machine to draw blood from the patient’s body, spin it, and separate its components.
The working principle of the centrifuge is relatively simple—it separates blood components based on their density levels. Red blood cells, being the densest, settle at the bottom, followed by white blood cells, platelets, and finally plasma.
Once the blood components are separated, the doctor will determine the next steps. Depending on the patient’s medical condition and needs, the doctor may remove or modify the blood. If the blood is modified, it will be reintroduced into the patient’s body using a catheter or IV infusion.
Blood Diseases Treatable with Apheresis
Apheresis plays a significant role in treating various medical conditions. For instance, individuals undergoing intensive chemotherapy for cancer treatment may require apheresis to preserve healthy stem cells for reintroduction after completing chemotherapy.
Generally, apheresis is used to treat blood cancers and blood disorders. Below are some blood diseases commonly treated with apheresis:
Blood Cancers:
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Certain types of lymphoma, including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia
Blood Disorders:
- Sickle cell anemia
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
One of the most common blood cancers treated with apheresis is leukemia. In this condition, the bone marrow produces an excessive number of abnormal white blood cells, which do not function properly. An excessively high number of white blood cells can cause severe symptoms.
For leukemia patients, apheresis is typically required to reduce excessively high white blood cell levels (leukapheresis). During the procedure, the patient’s blood is drawn, its components are separated, and the excess white blood cells are removed or modified to help alleviate symptoms.
Apheresis for Blood Disease Therapy at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri
Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri offers apheresis therapy for blood diseases. The procedure is performed by Dr. Toman T.J. Lumban Toruan, Sp.PD-KHOM, an internal medicine specialist and hematology-oncology consultant, along with Dr. Alvin Tagor Harahap, Sp.PD-KHOM.
Dr. Toman has treated leukemia patients at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri using the apheresis procedure. One patient had previously undergone chemotherapy for leukemia but did not achieve optimal results due to an allergy to chemotherapy drugs.
After undergoing apheresis, the leukemia patient experienced symptom improvement, and the leukapheresis procedure yielded promising results.
“Initially, the patient’s white blood cell count was around 190,000. After one session of apheresis, it dropped to approximately 90,000. The patient will continue undergoing additional therapies and apheresis sessions to stabilize white blood cell levels to a safe range,” explained Dr. Toman.
In addition to leukapheresis, Dr. Toman also performs plasmapheresis to treat autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis.
Consult About Apheresis for Blood Disease Therapy
Do you have questions about apheresis for blood disease therapy or general health concerns? Feel free to visit Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri.
Use the chat feature via WhatsApp, Book Appointment, or the Care Doctor app, available for download on Google Play and the App Store, to facilitate your visit, check queue numbers, and access complete information.
