The Long-Term Effects of Repeated Plasmapheresis

The Effect of Prolonged Plasmapheresis on Immunoglobulins, other Serum Proteins, Delayed Hypersensitivity and Phytohemagglutinin-Induced Lymphocyte Transformation

“…This finding together with the known rapidity of plasma reconstitution [7], might account for our failure to Consistent serum protein levels above 6.0 gm°/o have been reported after prolonged plasmapheresis according to American Blood Bank As sociation standards [11,14,17]. Our findings are not necessarily in con flict with these studies since the mean total protein reduction reflected by our observed low immunoglobulin, ^1,'-globulin, and albumin levels was in the order 1.0 gm#/o, which might not be sufficient to reduce total serum protein levels below the accepted normal range.…”

A prospective multicentre study on the safety of long‐term intensive plasmapheresis in donors (SIPLA)

“…More intensive plasmapheresis programmes would facilitate self‐sufficiency with plasma and plasma products and improve product safety and economy, if they do not impair donor safety and plasma quality. Ample evidence has accumulated that long‐term intensive donor plasmapheresis as practised for decades in the USA is safe, provided that donors are carefully monitored in terms of plasma protein depletion [11–16,22]. US plasma collection centres have performed approximately 13 million plasmapheresis donor collection procedures annually for decades without obvious serious events [9,10,21].…”

“…Long‐term intensive donor plasmapheresis programmes have been carried out in the USA for decades without serious clinical complications [9,10]. The safety of this approach has been indicated by clinical studies demonstrating that the major limiting factor in donor plasmapheresis is the capacity of donors to restore their plasma proteins [11–16]. In addition to US experience, the safety of long‐term intensive donor plasmapheresis has been further confirmed by a recent cross‐sectional study with regard to immunity, red cell and iron metabolism, and cardiovascular risk markers [6].…”

The impact of different intensities of regular donor plasmapheresis on humoral and cellular immunity, red cell and iron metabolism, and cardiovascular risk markers

“…The safety of long-term intensive donor plasmapheresis remains a controversial issue. Several trials -mainly performed in the United States of America (USA) -have shown that donor ability to restore lost plasma proteins is a major limiting factor in plasmapheresis [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. A more recent trial of long-term plasma donors reported an increased percentage of B cells and a decreased percentage of suppressor T cells and natural killer cells, measured by flow cytometry [9].…”