Plasma Exchange
Conditions
Autoimmune diseases are driven by a buildup of pathogenic autoantibodies, inflammatory cytokines, and circulating immune complexes. Personalized plasmapheresis mechanically removes these disease-driving elements from the blood. By rapidly lowering self-attacking autoantibodies, plasma exchange effectively resets the immune response when standard immunosuppressants can fall short.
Schedule a free appointment to find out if plasma exchange can help you.
Topic Quicklinks
Benefits for a Variety of Autoimmune Conditions
Plasma exchange physically removes self-attacking autoantibodies and inflammatory complexes directly from the bloodstream, offering immediate systemic relief that many targeted pharmaceuticals cannot match. While standard oral or intravenous medications can take weeks to suppress antibody production, plasma exchange rapidly lowers pathogenic titers and can quickly halt damage or symptoms. Multiple structured sessions of plasma exchange can consistently clear circulating antibodies to help prevent rebound inflammation and reset the immune system response.
Myasthenia Gravis
The immune system produces autoantibodies that block or destroy nerve-to-muscle receptors, causing severe muscle weakness and fatigue. Plasma exchange rapidly clears circulating anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies to restore muscle signaling and stop life-threatening respiratory crises.
CIDP
As the chronic counterpart to GBS, the immune system continuously attacks peripheral nerves over months or years, causing progressive limb weakness and sensory loss. Plasma exchange removes circulating immune complexes and autoantibodies to suppress active flares and preserve long-term nerve function.
Multiple Sclerosis
During severe relapses, immune cells and inflammatory antibodies cross the blood-brain barrier to damage the myelin sheath around central nerve fibers. Plasma exchange can help for severe, steroid-resistant relapses by filtering out demyelinating antibodies and halt acute tissue destruction.
Transverse Myelitis
An autoimmune attack targeted directly at the spinal cord damages the myelin sheath, causing sensory loss, severe pain, and rapid motor paralysis below the level of the lesion. Plasma exchange filters out autoantibodies to relieve spinal inflammation and prevent permanent nerve loss when steroids prove insufficient.
ANCA Vasculitis
Autoantibodies attack white blood cells, causing them to inflame and damage small blood vessels throughout the kidneys, lungs, and skin. Plasma exchange clears ANCA antibodies and inflammatory drivers from circulation, arresting vessel damage and protecting vital organs during high-risk disease phases.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Autoantibodies target the synovium (the lining of the joint capsules), driving chronic inflammation, joint pain, tissue erosion, and systemic vascular issues. Plasma exchange clears circulating Rheumatoid Factor and heavy immune complex burdens from blood flow during severe, treatment-resistant flares or systemic vasculitis complications.
Goodpasture Syndrome
Autoantibodies attack basement membranes in the blood vessels of the lungs and kidneys, threatening acute kidney failure and severe lung bleeding. Plasma exchange can rapidly extract circulating anti-GBM antibodies from the blood stream, protecting renal function and halting pulmonary hemorrhaging.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Autoantibodies destroy or inhibit ADAMTS13 which causes microscopic blood clots that can lead to organ damage and excessive bleeding. Plasma exchange removes the harmful autoantibodies while simultaneously replacing missing ADAMTS13 enzymes.
Autoimmune Encephalitis
The immune system produces autoantibodies (such as anti-NMDAR or anti-LGI1) that cross the blood-brain barrier and attack critical brain receptors. Plasma exchange rapidly filters pathogenic autoantibodies and inflammatory proteins directly out of the blood to calm inflammation and swelling.
Free 30-min Telehealth Appointment
Learn more about plasma exchange and if it can help your autoimmune condition or symptoms. Schedule a free 30-minute telehealth appointment.
- Review your history and symptoms to find out if you are a good candidate for therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE).
- Learn how MDLifespan’s unique approach to Advanced Serial Therapeutic Plasma Exchange can be more effective than other methods.
- Determine how to personalize our plasma exchange procedures to your unique goals and history.
- The virtual doctor’s appointment is free. No insurance is required.
Our Personalized Approach to Plasma Exchange
Advanced Serial TPE is a patent pending procedure that can be more effective than traditional plasma exchange.
Personalized Plan
Advanced Serial TPE adds advanced diagnostics, tracks toxin levels & biomarker changes, and uses those results to personalize the plasma exchange plan.
Multi-modal Program
Beyond TPE, Plasma exchange bundles IV nutrient therapy after each session, daily protein-powder supplementation, and lifestyle guidance to enhance TPE effects.
Specialized Physicians
Our physicians specialize in TPE and use their focused experience to design highly individualized plans that account for complex conditions and maximize the removal of disease-causing substances.
Advanced Serial TPE Patient Case Studies
Hear stories from patients who received the Advanced Serial TPE procedures.