2. Plasmapheresis (Therapeutic Plasma Exchange)

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE, PLEX)

Traditional plasmapheresis to remove a part of the plasma together with toxic substances. Requires donor plasma/albumin.

What is Therapeutic Plasma Exchange?

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE, also known as Therapeutic Apheresis, Therapeutic Plasmapheresis, PLEX) is a medical procedure designed to remove harmful substances from the blood's plasma component: part of the separated plasma is completely discarded and replaced with an albumin solution, fresh frozen plasma or plasma derivatives.

In contrast to Double Filtration Plasmapheresis which selectively removes harmful substances, TPE is a non-selective treatment.

Because TPE requires plasma replacement, it is performed in hospitals.

For more information on TPE, download the Guidelines of the American Society for Apheresis

Substances removed by TPE

  • Pathogen autoantibodies
  • Immune complexes
  • Cryoglobulins
  • Endotoxins
  • Cholesterol-containing lipoproteins
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Treatment

Target diseases

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) treatment is indicated for patients affected by various diseases, including:

  • Vasculitis (Goodpasture syndrome and Wegener syndrome)
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
  • Cryoglobulinemia
  • Micromolecular and macromolecular myeloma
  • Lupus erythematosus
  • Hemolytic uremic syndrome
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome