What Are Plasma Protein Therapies?

juillet 21, 2022

Plasma protein therapies are unique treatments that are used to replace missing or lacking proteins found in plasma. For people who require plasma protein therapies, these treatments are essential and life-sustaining, enabling patients to live healthy, well-rounded lives.

If you’d like to learn more about what exactly plasma is and the life-altering therapies it is used to create, keep reading to find out. 

What Is Blood Plasma?

Before we delve more into what plasma protein therapies are, it’s important to first understand what plasma is. Plasma is a straw-coloured liquid portion of blood. It is the largest component of blood, and it contains essential proteins that are needed for blood clotting and immunity. 

How Are Plasma Protein Therapies Created? 

Plasma goes through an extensive manufacturing process that ranges from 7 – 12 months after it has been donated. Plasma fractionation is part of this manufacturing process, and it entails using purification techniques, like precipitation, centrifugation, separation, and filtration, to transform plasma into various therapies. 

After plasma has been manufactured into plasma protein therapies, it can then be administered to immunocompromised patients who require these treatments on a consistent basis.

Plasma that is frozen can be used in hospitals and other clinical settings for up to 12 months after donation. Because of plasma’s blood clotting abilities, it can be used to treat victims of major accidents in emergency cases. However, most donated plasma is used to make pharmaceutical products. 

What Types of Plasma Protein Therapies Are There?

There are four main types of plasma protein therapies:

• Albumin
• IVIG (Intravenous Immuoglobulin)
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin 
• Coagulation Factors

Each of these therapies are used to treat different rare and chronic conditions. 

Who Needs Plasma Protein Therapies? 

Millions of people worldwide require plasma protein therapies for a variety of reasons. People with immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, bleeding disorders, and more rely on plasma protein therapies in order to live healthy lives. 

Now that you know what plasma protein therapies are, we hope you’ll consider making a donation in the near future. Patients are only able receive the life-sustaining treatments they need due to the generosity of plasma donors, and every donation helps! Book a plasma donation appointment at a Canadian Plasma Resources centre near you to help us help others.