Apheresis is an advanced medical technology whereby the arterial blood of an individual is passed via an artificial device into a bag and then back again. It's so-called because it doesn't involve the use of needles or any type of instrument that could possibly be contaminated with bodily fluids. Essentially, it's a non-invasive procedure where a technician inserts a cannula - or typically a narrow tube - into a patient's arterial blood vessel so that the arterial blood is extracted. Once this is accomplished, the tube is sealed back up so that it can be withdrawn, and the cannula is subsequently removed and discarded. It's then an extracorporeal therapy.
A common variation among single donor Apheresismethods is the use of immuno-suppression drugs. Apheresis doesn't require the administration of any medications, and patients are unaware that they're being administered immuno-suppressants during the procedure. Therefore, it's impossible to know whether or not the patients taking such drugs are at risk of developing allergic reactions to any ingredients contained within the blood product. In addition, immuno-suppressant drugs can alter the composition of blood products dramatically, rendering them ineffective after any period of time.
Apheresis can also use sophisticated techniques, including the delivery of platelets directly into the heart. This method of Apheresisrequires that an anesthetic be injected into the patient, as well as the administration of a large amount of sodium thioglycolate. Platelets, which are rich in glucose, are the major component of the blood plasma. Once they reach the heart, platelets start producing glycolysis (breaking down sugars and starches). This assists in the production of new cells in the heart and liver, as well as cleansing the vessels. Recently, in April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval for Teurmo BCT Inc. and Marker Therapeutics AG’s D2000 Adsorption Cartridge to treat patients 18 years of age or older with confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
