Potential for plasma exchange in children

Abstract

Plasmapheresis and plasma exchange are terms that are often used synonomously in today's literature. However plasma exchange has become possible only since the introduction of efficient cell separation techniques. A cell separator machine can remove large volumes of plasma, necessitating replacement with whole or fractionated plasma or a plasma substitute, to maintain intravascular colloid osmotic pressure. Plasmapheresis is the removal of plasma only, with the return of the cellular blood components, as first described in 1914. The original term being derived from the Greek apheresis meaning a withdrawal.