Apheresis (/əˈfɛr ə sɪs/) is a medical procedure where blood is filtered to remove certain components before being returned to the body. The spelling of the word comes from the Greek word "aphairesis" which means "a taking away or deduction." The sound of the "a" in the first syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "about," while the "i" in the second syllable is pronounced like "uh." The "e" in the third syllable is pronounced like the "e" in "met," and the final syllable is pronounced with a soft "s" sound.
Apheresis is a medical procedure that involves the extraction of blood from an individual, separating one or more components, and returning the remaining blood to the circulation system. This therapeutic technique is used to treat various conditions, especially those related to blood disorders.
Diving deeper into the process, apheresis typically entails the use of a specialized machine called an apheresis machine. This machine carries out the selective removal of specific blood components, such as platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, or certain antibodies. The collected blood component is then utilized for further medical purposes, while the rest of the blood is returned to the person's body.
Apheresis is employed in multiple medical scenarios, including the isolation of specific beneficial blood components like platelets or plasma, donation of these components to individuals in need, or removing harmful components like certain antibodies or excessive amounts of cholesterol. It is commonly utilized in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, genetic disorders, and organ transplantation procedures.
Overall, apheresis is a medical procedure that plays a critical role in managing a range of conditions by selectively removing, replacing, or isolating specific blood components while ensuring the safe return of the remaining blood to the individual's circulatory system.
The word "apheresis" comes from the Ancient Greek term "aphairesis" (ἀφαίρεσις), which means "taking away" or "removal". It is derived from the verb "aphairein" (ἀφαίρειν), meaning "to take away" or "to remove". The term was later borrowed into Latin as "aphaeresis" and subsequently entered into English. In linguistic and phonetic contexts, "apheresis" refers to the process of dropping or removing a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word.