Apheresis

Apheresis is a specialized treatment that helps ease symptoms and side effects of certain leukemias, lymphomas and sickle cell disorders. It can also be used to collect stem cells prior to high dose chemotherapy. We can do most forms of apheresis in our apheresis center in Oak Lawn which means you don’t need to drive into the city to get your child needed care.

During the procedure, blood is collected, processed and returned to the body. Your child may need apheresis to remove parts of their blood that have become harmful or to add healthy blood cells. If cancer damages certain types of blood cells, a donor can help provide replacement cells.

Types of apheresis

Types of apheresis include plasmapheresis (removing plasma), leukapheresis (removing white blood cells), plateletpheresis (removing platelets), erythrocytapheresis (removing red blood cells), and lipoprotein apheresis (removing lipoproteins).

Apheresis treatment at Advocate Children’s Hospital

Our doctors help you decide if apheresis should form part of your child’s treatment plan. We may recommend different types of apheresis for:

• Therapeutic red blood cell exchange: Sickle cell disease distorts red blood cells and causes them to clump together, leaving children in pain and damaging their bodies. Our apheresis removes sickle-shaped cells and adds healthy cells, while avoiding a potential complication called iron overload. Learn more about sickle cell disease.
• White blood cell removal: The number of white blood cells can spike with leukemia or lymphoma. This side effect thickens the blood and can lead to problems with breathing, circulation or the heart. Children may need apheresis before they receive treatment for the cancer itself.
• Stem cell transplant: Blood-forming cells in the bone marrow can get damaged by cancer or its treatment. Apheresis collects stem cells prior to this therapy so that they can be returned to help the bone marrow recover. Sometimes donors provide stem cells that are collected from the blood through apheresis or from the bone marrow. Both types are given to the patient after a preparative chemotherapy by a transfusion through an IV.

How apheresis works

If your child needs apheresis, they can come to the welcoming environment of our apheresis center in Oak Lawn. Our specialized care team helps make your child comfortable throughout the procedure.

Apheresis takes a few hours. Your child lies in bed or sits in a comfortable reclining chair, trying to remain still. Then:

1. The technician gets two intravenous (IV) lines ready.
2. One line is used in an arm to remove blood.
3. The second line is used in the other arm to return blood to the body.
4. The blood is removed and goes through the apheresis machine.
5. The machine treats the blood by removing the targeted unhealthy cells or adding healthy cells.
6. Treated blood is returned to the body.
7. The technician removes both of the IV lines.

Apheresis side effects

Sometimes apheresis causes children’s calcium levels to drop. The lower calcium might cause muscle spasms. Our doctors treat your child with calcium if this side effect develops.

Children may also notice numbness in some parts of their bodies. They may feel like their hands or feet are “asleep” or their mouth is tingling. The doctor checks your child for these sensations and helps make them more comfortable.