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Apheresis: A Vital Technology Transforming Modern Medicine
Apheresis is a life-saving medical procedure that plays a crucial role in both therapeutic treatments and blood component collection. Derived from the Greek word aphairesis, meaning “to take away,” the process involves removing whole blood from a patient or donor, separating specific components, and returning the remaining parts back to the bloodstream. Over the past few decades, apheresis has evolved from a niche technique into an essential part of modern healthcare, enabling advanced treatments across hematology, oncology, immunology, and organ transplantation.
Understanding the Apheresis Process
In a typical apheresis procedure, blood is withdrawn through a specialized machine that uses centrifugal or membrane separation techniques. This machine divides blood into its components—red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma—depending on the therapeutic goal. The desired component is extracted, and the rest is safely returned to the body through the same venous access.
Apheresis can be…