The apheresis procedure can help manage autoimmune disorders. The procedure has a few variations and is highly personalized. In a general sense, it involves removing the blood, separating it, and returning the healthy components to the body. By ridding the harmful autoantibodies and nourishing the immune system, apheresis has the opportunity to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for those suffering from autoimmune conditions.
Autoimmune disorders can lead to chronic inflammation and organ damage in the body. And, unfortunately, this can impact one’s quality of life as pain, fatigue, and disability all become common.
Although there is no cure, apheresis is a procedure that is proving to be effective for the treatment and management of many different autoimmune disorders — slowing down progression, alleviating symptoms, and improving overall health.
This article explores how the apheresis procedure helps to manage autoimmune disorders.
What is Apheresis?
An autoimmune disorder involves the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues, healthy cells, and organs by mistake. This can lead to high levels of inflammation as well as fatigue, fever, muscle aches, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, digestion issues, abdominal pain, and swollen lymph nodes. A few of the most common conditions include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
Many people suffer greatly from autoimmune disorders — and apheresis can help. It is a medical procedure used to treat these conditions by removing damaging components from the blood. It is a highly effective tool.
How Apheresis Works
So, just how does apheresis work? Believe it or not, it can be made to target specific components of the blood. It removes the blood from the body, separates it into different parts, and then returns only specific components to the body.
This allows for the removal of harmful substances. Some autoimmune diseases involve the production of unwanted autoantibodies — those that attack the body’s own tissue. Apheresis will work to remove them from the bloodstream.
Getting rid of the dangerous blood components means that there is healthier blood with less inflammation. This can reduce things like joint pain and swelling that are felt throughout the body.
Balance can be restored, helping an overactive immune system to calm down. And the patient can feel the positive effects of all of these things.
Apheresis: The Procedure
In a traditional blood draw, the blood is removed and sent to a lab where it is separated into four components – red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Apheresis does this, but instead of sending the blood out for separation, it does it while the donor is still connected to the device. It removes what it needs to and returns the rest to the patient. The process can take a couple of hours.
Because there are many different types of autoimmune disorders, there simply must be more than one type of apheresis procedure to treat it. Three of the most common types are listed below.
Plasmapheresis. This type of apheresis removes the liquid, protein-rich part of the blood known as plasma. It can provide relief for several different types of autoimmune conditions including Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Leukapheresis. Another type of apheresis, leukapheresis targets white blood cells. These are involved in the body’s immune responses and can be used successfully to lower inflammation in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Plateletpheresis. And, as its name suggests, plateletpheresis removes platelets. This is commonly used in those autoimmune disorders that impact the blood clotting system.
Donor Apheresis
Another method of apheresis that helps patients comes from a donor. A healthy person donates blood using an apheresis machine that is designed to collect the specific components needed. It is then stored and delivered to the patient.
Donated plasma, platelets, and white blood cells are processed through a donation facility and sent where they are needed. Often they are either frozen or processed with gamma globulin to keep it healthy and ready for use.
Autoimmune Disorder Treatment with Apheresis
Apheresis is often used alongside other treatments, including medications and physical therapy. It takes a whole-body approach to healing, slowing down the progression of the disease and offering temporary relief. It is important to understand that this is not a cure for autoimmune conditions.
Apheresis treatment is highly personalized. As mentioned, there are different types of procedures available and each one meets a specific need. What’s more, the frequency of treatment will depend greatly on the individual patient and their condition.
It is important for all healthcare professionals involved to collaborate to ensure that everyone is on the same page with the treatment, including immunologists, hematologists, etc. However, many patients find that working with a team that specializes in treating autoimmune disorders is the best way to approach apheresis — especially since research is still ongoing and new methods and therapies are always being discovered.
Treat Autoimmune Disorders at Lyme Mexico
When the body is attacking itself as it does with autoimmune disorders, finding the right help can be a challenge. It is no surprise that many patients spend years looking for relief from the symptoms without ever finding a solution.
Sometimes, you have to look further. At the Lyme Mexico clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Dr. Omar Morales and his team of specialists are well-versed in the treatment and care of patients suffering from autoimmune disorders. Travel outside the country, such as outside the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and find alternate treatments that will give you the relief you have been hoping for.
If you would like to get started and regain control of your life, then it is time you choose to seek the right treatment. Schedule a consultation with Lyme Mexico and learn how you can reduce your symptoms.
Conclusion
Apheresis offers a promising approach for managing autoimmune disorders. By selectively removing harmful substances from the blood, this procedure can help alleviate symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
Apheresis may not be a cure for autoimmune disorders, but it can offer significant relief for individuals suffering from these debilitating conditions. Research continues to push forward — reflecting evidence that apheresis may just be the best treatment for autoimmune disorders.