Apheresis: Definition and Treatment in Turkey

What is Apheresis and Apheresis Treatment in Turkey

Blood disorders and diseases requiring blood transfusion are widespread across the world. For this reason, many people require clean blood treatment. At this stage, apheresis procedure becomes necessary. So let's examine together What Apheresis is and How it is Treated.

What is Apheresis

Apheresis is the process of collecting blood from a donor and separating it into its components. During this procedure, blood collected from a patient or donor is separated into its components with the help of a device. These components include platelets, erythrocytes, and plasma. After the necessary blood components are collected, the remaining blood is returned to the donor.

The apheresis treatment method is used therapeutically in carbon monoxide poisoning, drug poisoning, mushroom poisoning, sudden hearing disorders, eye disorders, rheumatic diseases, diabetic foot ulcers, and even neurological, hematological, and cardiac conditions.

What are the Types of Apheresis?

When examining What are the Types of Apheresis, therapeutic apheresis includes several types. We can list them for you as follows:

• Plasmapheresis; In this method, fluids contained in plasma are separated, and after passing through certain filters if deemed necessary by the physician, specific components are removed before returning the plasma to the patient.

• Leukapheresis; In this method, white blood cells are separated.

• Erythrocytapheresis; In this method, red blood cells contained in blood are separated.

• Photopheresis; In this procedure, blood collected from the patient's body is separated and exposed to light at a specific wavelength, then separated from unwanted substances.

• Lipid Apheresis; In this type of apheresis, fats contained in blood are separated.

• Hemofiltration; In this method, blood is passed through filters of many varieties and separated from substances of microscopic dimensions.

How is Apheresis Performed?

Apheresis procedure is one of the procedures that blood donors particularly fear. There is nothing to fear during this procedure, and we recommend that you remember that by donating blood, you have saved someone's life. So let's examine together How Apheresis is Performed.

• The donor who will become a blood donor is placed on a stretcher and made comfortable.

• Since blood is collected and returned to the person in the apheresis procedure, two vascular access points are established.

• The collected blood enters the apheresis machine and is separated into the desired components; these components are collected and the remaining blood is returned to the donor through the other vascular access.

• The apheresis procedure takes between 1-4 hours depending on the situation.

• If apheresis is to be performed for therapeutic purposes from the patient, this procedure is performed regularly at time intervals determined by the physician—once a week, several times a week, or once a month.

The frequency of apheresis treatment varies depending on the condition being treated. In some cases, a single session may be sufficient, while in other cases, multiple sessions spanning weeks or months may be required; this process depends entirely on the physician's evaluation.

Which Diseases are Treated with Apheresis?

Apheresis is commonly referred to as blood cleaning among the public. During this procedure, the patient or donor does not feel any pain. The blood collected is passed through apheresis devices and separated into its components; the necessary components are collected and the remaining blood is returned to the patient or donor. So we can list Which Diseases are Treated with Apheresis as follows:

• Neurological conditions

• Liver diseases

• Kidney diseases

• Blood disorders

• Skin diseases

• Infectious diseases

• Rheumatic diseases

• Cancers

• Heart diseases

• Cholesterol disorders

• Treatment of foot wounds resulting from diabetes

• Chronic bowel diseases

• Eye diseases

• Sudden hearing loss

• Mushroom poisoning

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Drug poisoning

• Organ transplantation

• Stem cell transplantation

Apheresis is used in the treatment of approximately 100 diseases and conditions.

Beyond these general categories, apheresis also has applications in the medical literature for: hematologic diseases such as sickle cell disease, leukemia, and myasthenia gravis; autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus; neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and multiple sclerosis; metabolic disorders such as hypercholesterolemia and familial hyperchylomicronemia; and various poisoning conditions.

What are the Advantages of Apheresis?

Apheresis is a medical procedure that separates blood components such as plasma, erythrocytes, and platelets from one another and can be used supportively in the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Some prominent features of the apheresis method are listed as follows:

• It can be used in a wide variety of medical conditions. Apheresis can be used in removing harmful substances from blood, collecting specific blood components, and replacing deficient or damaged components with new ones.

• It is a procedure performed in a controlled environment. Apheresis is performed by healthcare professionals trained in this field in environments that provide appropriate and sterile conditions.

• It can be used in collecting specific blood components. This feature is important for patients requiring specific components such as platelets or plasma.

• It can support the removal of harmful substances from blood. This can provide support to patients in conditions such as high cholesterol, autoimmune diseases, and poisoning.

• It can contribute to supporting the quality of life of individuals with chronic diseases. Under physician supervision, apheresis can help reduce symptoms and support functions.

In addition to these general features, it is noted in medical literature that apheresis can provide different clinical outcomes in the treatment of certain diseases compared to some other methods. For example, in patients with familial hyperchylomicronemia, apheresis can be evaluated as a supportive option to drug therapy in removing cholesterol from blood. Similarly, in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, apheresis can be used to remove harmful antibodies from blood. This information is based on general medical literature; only the relevant physician can determine which method is appropriate.

What is the Difference Between Apheresis and Whole Blood Donation?

Apheresis and whole blood donation are two different methods used in blood collection. Apheresis is a procedure that separates blood components such as plasma, erythrocytes, and platelets from one another. Whole blood is a mixture containing all blood components together.

Whole blood

Whole blood is collected by placing a single needle in the patient's vein. Blood is placed in a bag and transferred to another patient who needs it.

Whole blood transfusion is generally used in patients who have lost large amounts of blood as a result of trauma or surgery. It can also be applied in certain medical conditions such as anemia or leukemia.

Differences between apheresis and whole blood

The most fundamental difference between apheresis and whole blood is the manner in which blood is collected. Apheresis separates blood components from one another, while whole blood is collected as a mixture of all components.

Another difference is the amount of blood collected. In apheresis, generally less blood is collected compared to whole blood donation.

Finally, apheresis can be used supportively in the treatment of many different medical conditions, while whole blood transfusion is generally preferred in patients experiencing significant blood loss.

What Does Apheresis Blood Mean?

To answer the question What Does Apheresis Blood Mean, it refers to blood being collected from a patient or donor, passed through apheresis devices, separated into desired components, those components are collected, and the remaining blood is returned to the patient or donor. This procedure takes approximately 1-4 hours.

Who Receives Apheresis Blood?

The most straightforward answer to the question Who Receives Apheresis Blood should be those who need it. Therefore:

• Those with neurological diseases

• Those with liver diseases

• Those with kidney diseases

• Those with blood disorders

• Those with skin diseases

• Those with infectious diseases

• Those with rheumatic diseases

• Those with cancer

• Those with heart diseases

• Those with cholesterol disorders

• For treatment of foot wounds resulting from diabetes

• Those with chronic bowel diseases

• Those with eye diseases

• Those with sudden hearing loss

• Those experiencing mushroom poisoning

• Those experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning

• Those experiencing drug poisoning

• Those undergoing organ transplantation

• Those undergoing stem cell transplantation

and many others with various conditions receive it with physician approval.

What are the Side Effects of Apheresis Donation?

Apheresis donation is an important type of donation that saves many lives. It can be observed that when people fear they will be harmed, they stay away from this donation. Side effects are rare and minimal. In fact, apheresis has many benefits. We can list What are the Side Effects of Apheresis Donation for you as follows:

• Numbness around the mouth

• Nausea and accompanying vomiting

• Chills, shivering, and muscle twitching

• Dizziness

• Muscle cramps

• Heart palpitations

• Bruising and swelling at the vascular access site

These are mild and rarely occurring side effects that may develop.

Lipid Apheresis Treatment

Lipid apheresis treatment is a medical procedure that removes fat components such as cholesterol and triglycerides from blood. This method can be evaluated under physician supervision as an option in people with severe hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) whose cholesterol levels cannot be controlled with diet and medication therapy alone.

How does lipid apheresis work?

Lipid apheresis is performed with the help of a device called an apheresis machine. Two needles placed in the patient's veins are connected to the device. Blood drawn from one vein is pumped into the device and separated into its components, fats are removed from the blood, and the remaining blood components are returned to the patient through the other vascular access.

What are the characteristics of lipid apheresis treatment?

Lipid apheresis treatment can support the reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood. This condition may be evaluated by the physician in managing risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. Additionally, this method may be part of the treatment plan in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetically determined condition that leads to high cholesterol.

Who can be considered for lipid apheresis treatment?

Lipid apheresis treatment is generally evaluated in patients with severe hyperlipidemia whose cholesterol levels cannot be controlled with diet and medication therapy. This may include FH patients, diabetic patients, and individuals with a history of heart disease or stroke. Only the relevant physician can decide on the suitability of this treatment.

What are the risks and side effects of lipid apheresis treatment?

Although lipid apheresis treatment is a relatively safe procedure, some potential risks and side effects may occur as follows:

• Dizziness

• Bruising

• Infection

• Allergic reaction

• Bleeding

• Blood clots

How frequently is lipid apheresis treatment needed?

The frequency of lipid apheresis treatment varies depending on the individual patient's condition. For some patients, a single session may be sufficient, while others may require multiple sessions spanning weeks or months.

Apheresis Treatment Prices in Turkey

Treatment of many diseases is possible within Turkey's borders. As a result of dedicated work and research by physicians and their contributions to new treatment methods, preferences of citizens abroad lean toward Turkey.

Apheresis procedure, commonly known as blood cleaning, is applied in the treatment of many diseases. This procedure is performed by separating blood collected from the patient or donor into its components with the help of apheresis devices. After the separation process, the necessary blood components are collected and the remaining blood is returned to the donor. In Turkey, this procedure can be easily applied in the treatment of virtually all diseases requiring it.

These applications are performed in clean, sterile, spacious, and comfortable hospitals using the latest technological devices. These procedures are performed by physicians who are specialists and experienced in their field. Treatment fees are also quite reasonable.

For these reasons, we can see that patients coming to Turkey for apheresis treatment want to have prior information about Apheresis Treatment Prices in Turkey. However, since procedures are personalized, it is not appropriate to provide exact price information. For this reason, to obtain definitive information and pricing details about apheresis treatment, you can contact us. Furthermore, if you come to Turkey through our mediation, we can facilitate your visa procedures with the invitation letter we send to the consulate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is apheresis the same as platelets?

Apheresis is a medical procedure that separates blood components such as plasma, erythrocytes, and platelets from one another; it is not platelets themselves. Platelets are a type of cell that helps with blood clotting. Plateletapheresis is a type of apheresis aimed at collecting platelets from donors. Collected platelets can be used in treating patients with low platelet counts or those requiring platelet transfusions.

What is the difference between apheresis and plasmapheresis?

Apheresis is a broader concept that involves the separation of blood components and can refer to the collection of any blood component such as plasma, erythrocytes, or platelets. Plasmapheresis is a specific type of apheresis that focuses specifically on the collection and separation of plasma.