What Conditions Can Plasmapheresis Treat?

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that affects the function of an individual's skeletal muscles. These muscles include those that perform vital functions such as the heart and those that move the lungs, as well as muscles responsible for moving the limbs. Commonly affected muscles in patients with myasthenia gravis include those that control facial expression, talking, eye movement, chewing, swallowing, and eyelid movement. In a healthy individual, electrical impulses communicate between nerves and other cells by the release of acetylcholine that binds to its receptors on the receiving nerve or cell. However, the immune system of a myasthenia gravis patient produces antibodies that destroy, alter, or block the acetylcholine receptors where the nerve meets the muscle. This malfunction results in no nerve transmission to the muscle cells to initiate a muscle contraction, causing muscle weakness. Plasmapheresis can be used to remove the harmful antibodies and replace them with donor plasma or a plasma substitute. Plasmapheresis can improve a patient's symptoms and improve muscle function for up to two weeks.

Continue reading to reveal more conditions that can benefit from plasmapheresis now.