Apheresis

This article was commissioned by Regenecell Pty Ltd, to supplement the current anecdotal data on stem cell therapy. For additional information, contact: info@regenecell.com

This is defined as a medical technology in which the blood of a patient is passed through an apparatus that separates out one particular constituent of the blood and returns the remainder to the circulation. This constituent is usually contributing to a harmful process and matters would be improved by a reduction in its concentration. This is particularly useful when used in conjunction with stem cell therapy.

In autoimmune conditions, the body's immune system paradoxically turns against itself, attacking its own tissues. Some of the cells involved in this process attack tissues directly, while others produce substances known as antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause the damage. Antibodies produced against one's own tissues are known as autoantibodies.

In autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis and Guillain Barre Syndrome, high levels of circulating immune proteins form part of the disease process and, when reduced in the bloodstream, result in an amelioration of symptoms and possible slowing of the disease process.

The American Society for Apheresis states that apheresis can be used in conditions like:

» Guillain Barre Syndrome
» Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
» Leukemias
» Myasthenia Gravis
» Multiple Sclerosis
» Rheumatoid Arthritis

During apheresis, the patient or donor is connected to the apheresis machine. A needle is inserted into a vein in each arm. Blood is withdrawn from one arm, run through the machine to extract the offending protein or stem cells, and all the remaining components of the blood are returned to the donor through the needle in the other arm.

In this way we can also harvest your own stem cells for reinfusion at a later stage directly into body compartments like knee joints for arthritis and cerebrospinal fluid for Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis. We coax your stem cells out of the bone marrow by using RegAmp, medication unique to Regenecell to enhance the yield during the harvesting process.

The actual apheresis process is painless. Patients may experience some light-headedness, numbness or tingling of the nose, lips, or fingers, but these symptoms are short-lived and easily treatable. An apheresis treatment takes several hours and can be done on an outpatient basis. The number of treatments needed varies greatly depending on the particular disease and the person's general condition.