Apheresis Patient and Family Resources
Apheresis is the continuous separation of blood by centrifugation.
We separate blood by force into three separate components with varying densities, which we then either collect or exchange.
In the case of collecting stem cells, apheresis can either be donor-autologous (stem cell source is the recipient themselves) or allogeneic (stem cell source is from someone other than the recipient). Therapeutic-based apheresis involves removing harmful components in the blood. We separate blood by specific gravity into three components: plasma, white blood cells and platelets, and red blood cells.
The apheresis program performs leukapheresis (removal of white blood cells), plasmapheresis (removal of plasma) and erythrocytapheresis (removal of red blood cells).
We perform three types of leukapheresis procedures. The most common type is hematopoietic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection (autologous and allogeneic). We also perform bone marrow processing and white blood cell (WBC) depletion.
Download the peripheral blood stem cell collection pamphlet (PDF).
The process of removing red blood cells in circulation and replacing them with donor red blood cells is known as red cell exchange.
Download the red cell exchange pamphlet (PDF).
Plasma exchange (or "Plex", as it is sometimes known) is commonly used to treat autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases and disorders.
In most cases, patients need four to six treatments to achieve a response.
Plasma exchange removes circulating plasma components such as immunoglobulins, albumin, fibrinogen and other clotting factors, urea, creatinine and electrolytes. It can also remove alloantibodies, autoimmune antibodies, antigen-antibody complexes, plasma proteins, metabolic waste products and plasma-bound drugs or poisons. These antibodies can attack healthy cells or tissue.
Some diseases can cause the body to make too much protein, which can slow down the blood flow. We treat some diseases/illnesses with Plex, including myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Goodpasture and Wegener's syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and sepsis with multi-organ failure.
Download the plasma exchange pamphlet (PDF).
Contact us
Director: Dr. Caron Strahlendorf, MB. BCh, FCP, FRCPC
Nurse coordinator: Kate Douglas
Phone: 604-875-2345 ext 7626
Email: kdouglas3@cw.bc.ca