Did you know that kidney disease affects the heart? Kidney disease is a major health condition and is quite common in many individuals, causing a significant number of deaths worldwide. The key role of the kidney is to filter out blood before it goes back to the heart and to remove waste products from the body. Kidney disease increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Healthy weight, diet, and lifestyle can help improve your kidney’s health and lower your risk of kidney disease. Houston Kidney Specialists Center specializes in providing comprehensive diagnoses and treatments for kidneys. The Houston plasmapheresis specialists offer quality and effective solutions to kidney problems to restore and improve lives. For any kidney issue, call or book online to schedule your appointment.
Located in Cypress and North Houston Area, Texas, the practice offers nephrology and internal medicine services to better people’s lives. The Houston Kidney Specialists Center team consists of highly skilled board-certified nephrologists that strive to ensure every patient gets the care they deserve. The welcoming specialists offer personalized treatment plans to address patient’s needs. The plasmapheresis specialists use advanced knowledge to provide successful outcomes. Visit them today for care with a difference.
What is plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a treatment involving the removal of antibodies from your blood. The procedure similar to dialysis allows your blood to run through a machine to remove the antibodies from your plasma, then it returns the filtered plasma to your body.
Antibodies serve as your natural defense mechanism and fight foreign substances that devour your health like bacteria and viruses.
However, in some situations, your immune system may produce antibodies that perform against you. These antibodies may damage organs and body systems or substances it sees harmful.
For example, in a case where you need a kidney transplant, the body may produce antibodies to make the body reject the donated kidney.
Who needs plasmapheresis?
Houston Kidney Specialists Center recommends plasmapheresis treatment for certain types of kidney disease. They include:
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
The condition causes the inflammation of the blood vessels in several organ systems, including kidneys. Plasmapheresis is an effective treatment for this kidney disease.
The treatment involves the removal of the disease-causing substances from your blood and then transfusing fresh plasma into your body.
Goodpasture syndrome
Goodpasture syndrome is a rare condition that affects the lungs and kidneys. Plasmapheresis helps prevent disease development by removing harmful antibodies.
What happens during plasmapheresis?
The treatment is similar to dialysis. You require a fistula and graft or dialysis catheter. During plasmapheresis, the blood runs from the catheter to the machine where the harmful antibodies get eliminated, then the clean plasma goes back to your body.
For kidney transplant patients you may require several plasmapheresis treatments before and after transplant surgery. It may also be advisable to take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of your kidney transplant.
In conclusion, plasmapheresis involves the removal of harmful antibodies from your blood then transfusion of clean plasma back to your body. The highly experienced nephrology team at the Houston Kidney Specialists Center offers top quality and effective care for plasmapheresis to restore your health and improve your life quality. Visit the practice today to learn more about kidney disease treatment and receive unmatched nephrology care.
