Background: Caregivers of patients on haemodialysis play a vital role in their lives. They have to look after them, their medical treatment and diet, to accompany them to dialysis unit, to help them in everyday activities, and to provide psychological support.Methods: Literature review was based on studies and reviews derived from international (MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL) databases concerning caregivers of patients undergoing haemodialysis. Results:Caregivers have physical and psychological distress, increased workload, limitations to personal and social activities, and inancial problems. They may feel tired, anger, depression, helplessness, guilt, isolation, loss of freedom, fear, vulnerable, and neglect their own health. They face diiculties with dating and marriage and problems with their job. Conclusions:Caregivers have a variety of psychosocial concerns due to long care of patients undergoing haemodialysis. The provision of support and information is essential in order to provide efective care to their patients.

Apheresis is a Greek word (Αφαίρεσης) which means removal of something from somewhere and was initially used in 1914. So Apheresis is the process by which plasma or cellular components are separated from the whole blood. This procedure is performed either on a blood donor, in order to supply the products to patients with different hematological or cancer diseases, or on a patient, alternatively as a therapeutic method. The process may be conducted by centrifugation and we can remove apart from the plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells as well as platelets. Furthermore, the process may be conducted by dialysis through a high permeability dialyzer which specifically removes plasma. Citrates or heparin are used as anticoagulants whereas fluid replacement comprises of albumin or fresh frozen plasma as well as colloidal starch when the procedure is plasma exchange. Complications are related to the vascular access, the anticoagulant or the replacement fluid (frequently with fresh frozen plasma). Now days an increased number of diseases are treated through apheresis procedures and this fact increased the interest of the medical world.