What Diseases Can Be Treated With Apheresis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Approximately 1.3 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease. The symptoms and damage are the results of the immune system attacking healthy parts of the body, such as the joints, eyes, or skin. This condition can be disabling. Plasmapheresis is a treatment option for this type of arthritis, and in this case, it involves removing the patient’s blood and filtering out certain antibodies that might be contributing to the effects of the disease. After filtering, the blood is reintroduced into the body. This treatment might be considered in severe cases when patients do not respond well to other treatments. Plasmapheresis should be administered with immunosuppressive therapy to prevent a rebound antibody production increase after treatment.