Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Therapeutic plasma exchange: a technical and operational review
1John Dempsey Hospital, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA. kaplan@nso.uchc.edu
Abstract:
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an extracorporeal blood purification technique designed for the removal of large molecular weight substances. Examples of these substances include pathogenic autoantibodies, immune complexes, cryoglobulins, myeloma light chains, endotoxin and cholesterol containing lipoproteins. The basic premise of the treatment is that removal of these substances will allow for the reversal of the pathologic processes related to their presence. This review will cover the techniques for performing TPE, the kinetics of the removal of large molecules from the plasma and the benefits and risks of the different types of replacement fluids.
Related Concept Videos
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Hemoperfusion and Hemofiltration
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
