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IVIG:
Intravenous Immune Globulin is blood serum from between 3-10,000 blood donors.
This blood product is then processed into IgG antibodies. These antibodies may
slow or stop the immune system's demyelinating attack caused by autoantibodies
in the blood plasma from the autoimmune response of GBS.
The most relevant immuno-modulatory actions of IVIG, operating alone or in
combination, are inhibition of complement deposition, neutralization of
cytokines, modulation of Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis, and down regulation
of autoantibody production.
Plasmapheresis: Plasma is the fluid portion of the blood that contains
the diseased antibodies attacking other healthy cells in the body (i.e., the
myelin and nerves). Plasmapheresis is a process that separates the blood cells;
red cells, white cells, and platelets, from the blood plasma so the plasma can
be removed. This is accomplished by a device called a blood cell separator, or a
centrifuge. The blood cells and platelets are returned to the patient with one
of three different type Plasmapheresis or Plasma Exchanges: 1. The patient is
given a fluid called Albumin (the same volume of plasma removed and given at the
same rate during removal) made of 5-10% blood serum and IV fluids. The body will
reproduce new plasma within 24 hours. 2. Fresh frozen plasma (thawed before
given, and at the same rate as plasma removed). 3. The patients own plasma can
be cleansed through processing and reused. I think this option is rare, however.
Through the Plasmapheresis process, a Plasma Exchange has been made.
Note: This process is now done with temp-ports that allow an inlet and outlet of
blood flow, which speeds the time from 5-6 hours to about 2 hours. Blood veins
are rarely used.
Submitted by Jethro
20 Jan 2003
I dimly
recall the process, it wasn't painful for me. I do remember being very cold,
though. ~Heath
Intra-Venous Immuno-Globulins. (I.V.I.G.)
G.B.S. and C.I.D.P. are neurological illnesses caused by the patient’s own
defensive antibodies mistakenly attacking the nerve tissue. Immuno-globulins
carrying antibodies are collected from the plasma of many hundreds of blood
donors leaving the red cells available for transfusion to other patients.
The Immuno-globulins with antibodies can be infused into the veins of patients
with GBS/CIDP to ‘flood’ the bad antibodies of the patient with good ones. This
will reduce further damage to the nerve tissue allowing the body to repair the
nerves.
Plasma-pheresis
Plasma-pheresis means plasma separation, it is used in the process of plasma
exchange.
Plasma is the fluid part of blood, in it are suspended the red and white blood
cells and platelets. The patient is linked to the separator from a vein. Blood
is drawn into the separator and either centrifuged or filtered. The red and
white cells and platelets are returned to the patient with synthetic albumen to
replace the plasma. The plasma containing the antibodies, both good and bad, is
removed and discarded.. During the procedure Heparin an anti-coagulant is used
to stop the blood clotting.
Programs vary, a common one is to have six exchanges on alternate days. Since
all antibodies both good and bad are removed, the patient is susceptible to
infection for a while after the procedure until new antibodies have been made.
During plasma exchange the blood pressure may drop, so patients are monitored.
Some may be allergic to synthetic albumen and develop itching, or breathing
difficulty.. The requirement for the anti-coagulant may cause some to bleed.
Submitted August
20, 2004 by Dr David B.
This page was last modified:
July 18, 2006
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