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Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Neurology

Explore the immunomodulatory effects of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for neurology and how it works

FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

How it works: Immunomodulatory effects of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE)

We invite you to get to know the proposed mechanisms of action for plasma exchange.¹

Note: “In a number of diseases, the bulk removal of pathological substances does not explain all of the findings associated with the use of TPE, and therefore TPE appears to have additional therapeutic effects.”¹

  • Removal of pathological antibodies
  • Correction of altered T helper cell type Th1/Th2
  • Changes in lymphocyte numbers (increase in T cells, decrease in B cells)
  • Increased T regulatory cells and T suppressor activity
  • Stimulated proliferation of B cells and plasma cells
  • Removal of immunocomplexes, enhancing macrophage/monocyte function
  • Removal of cytokines
  • Replacement of missing plasma components

The results of reducing disease mediators

The mean maximum reduction after one course* of plasma exchange was:²

IgA 69.1%
IgM 79.1%
IgG 73.4%

(subclasses 1-4)

Plasma exchange on the Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System

Not all plasma exchange is the same. Spectra Optia uses specific gravity to separate blood components. Centrifugation, as compared to membrane-based methods, produces more efficient separation, which can make important differences in the patient experience. 

Because centrifugal therapeutic plasma exchange (cTPE) is more efficient than membrane therapeutic plasma exchange (mTPE), it removes 1.5 to 3 times more plasma per volume of whole blood processed, allowing for shorter procedure times and/or lower whole blood flow rates as desired.

Video illustration of cTPE**

Spectra Optia uses differences in the specific gravity and sedimentation velocity of blood cells and plasma to separate specific blood components. With continuous flow centrifugation, blood is continuously added into the centrifuge; blood cells are separated from plasma, mixed with replacement fluid, and returned to the patient.





Additional features and benefits of the Spectra Optia system

  • Automatically monitors the fluids used in the procedure, which allows for the maintenance of fluid balance
  • Can be performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis
  • Has a median procedure time of 1 hour and 45 minutes (based on analyzed data of more than 40,000 procedures)
  • Accommodates smaller patients and supports patient comfort and safety
  • Allows peripheral venous access with single- or dual-needle options (other venous access options are available)

Did you know? Peripheral access data

Data from several studies indicate that 64.3%³ to 94.6%⁴ of apheresis procedures can be performed using peripheral access.⁵ (However, in some patients, peripheral access may not be feasible.⁶˒⁷)

Terminology: Plasma exchange, TPE, PLEX, and plasmapheresis

These terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Here are their distinctions:⁸

Plasmapheresis refers only to the removal of plasma.

Plasma exchange, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), and PLEX refer to both the removal and the replacement of plasma.

Contraindications
Leukocytapheresis is contraindicated in acute myeloid leukemia FAB M3 (acute promyelocytic leukemia) because of the accompanying disseminated intravascular coagulation.9,10 Other contraindications for the use of the Spectra Optia system are limited to those associated with the infusion of solutions and replacement fluids as required by the apheresis procedure and those associated with all types of automated apheresis systems.

Adverse events of apheresis procedures can include
Anxiety, headache, light-headedness, digital and/or facial paresthesia, fever, chills, hematoma, hyperventilation, nausea and vomiting, syncope (fainting), urticaria, hypotension, allergic reactions, infection, hemolysis, thrombosis in patient and device, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, coagulopathy, fatigue, hypomagnesemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, adverse tissue reaction, device failure/disposable set failure, air embolism, blood loss/anemia, electrical shock, fluid imbalance, and inadequate separation of blood components.

Reactions to blood products transfused during procedures can include
Hemolytic transfusion reaction, immune-mediated platelet destruction, fever, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), alloimmunization, posttransfusion purpura (PTP), transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD), circulatory overload, hypothermia, metabolic complications, and transmission of infectious diseases and bacteria.11,12

Restricted to prescription use only

  • Operators must be familiar with the system's operating instructions.
  • Procedures must be performed by qualified medical personnel.

Disclaimers and notes

*Patients underwent a median of 6 (range 5-27) TPE procedures during the trial.

**This graphic is intended to be a high-level representation of an apheresis procedure and therefore does not cover all steps. For a detailed description please contact Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.

  1. Reeves H, Winters J. The mechanisms of action of plasma exchange. Br J Haematol. 2014;164(3):342-351. 
  2. Guptill JT, Juel VC, Massey JM, et al. Effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on immunoglobulins in myasthenia gravis. Autoimmunity. 2016;49(7):472-479.
  3. Mortzell Henriksson M, Newman E, Witt V, et al. Adverse events in apheresis: an update of the WAA registry data. Transfus Apher Sci. 2016;54(1):2-15.
  4. Noseworthy JH, Shumak KH, Vandervoort MK. Long-term use of antecubital veins for plasma exchange. Transfusion. 1989;29(7):610-613.
  5. Putensen D, Leverett D, Patel B, Rivera J. Is peripheral access for apheresis procedures underutilized in clinical practice? A single centre experience.  J Clin Apher. 2017;32(6):553-559.
  6. Stegmayr B, Wikdahl A. Access in therapeutic apheresis. Ther Apher Dial. 2003;7(2):209-214.
  7. Schonermarck U, Bosch T. Vascular access for apheresis in intensive care patients. Ther Apher Dial. 2003;7(2):215-220.
  8. Assessment of plasmapheresis. Neurology. 1996;47(3):840-843.
  9. Vahdat L, Maslak P, Miller WH Jr, et al. Early mortality and the retinoic acid syndrome in acute promyelocytic leukemia: impact of leukocytosis, low-dose chemotherapy, PMN/RAR-alpha isoform and CD13 expression in patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid. Blood. 1994;84(11):3843-3849.
  10. Daver N, Kantarjian H, Marcucci G, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with acute promyelotic leukaemia and hyperleucocytosis .  Br J Haematol. 2015;168(5):646-653.
  11. AABB. Circular of Information for the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components. Bethesda, MD: AABB; 2017.
  12. European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM). Guide to the Preparation, Use and Quality Assurance of Blood Components. 19th edition. Strasbourg, France: EDQM Council of Europe; 2017.
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