Every donation made in plasma donation centers can potentially impact many people’s lives. But did you know that giving plasma can also help those with rare diseases in various ways? Here is an overview of what your donated plasma can do for patients with rare diseases and ongoing research to treat these conditions better.
Rare Diseases and Conditions Treated by Plasma
Plasma donations are in high demand from medical centers, research facilities, and more. By giving plasma, you can provide a lifeline for individuals afflicted with rare diseases and conditions, which include the following:
Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders
Patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders lack essential antibodies needed to fight infections. As a result, patients are more susceptible to diseases and severe complications such as autoimmune disorders or lymphomas.
Plasma donations supply patients with immunoglobulins that bolster their immune systems and minimize the severity of infections. Regular infusions of plasma-derived immunoglobulins are often vital to managing these disorders and improving patients’ quality of life.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder where patients experience deficient or defective blood clotting. This results in prolonged bleeding episodes following even minor injuries or traumatic incidents. Patients can experience internal bleeding, arthritis, joint issues, and infections such as hepatitis C.
Plasma donation provides healthy clotting concentrates naturally found in plasma, replacing the patient’s deficient factors. Treatment reduces the risk of excessive bleeding and allows hemophilia patients to lead more active lives with fewer risks of bleeding episodes and complications.
Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease is a genetic bleeding disorder characterized by problems with the von Willebrand factor (WVF), a protein involved in blood clotting. This protein impairs platelet function and clotting. Patients experience prolonged bleeding episodes, bruise easily, and experience mild to severe symptoms during nosebleeds, menstruation, and surgical procedures.
Plasma donation contributes to healthier VWF-containing plasma products or concentrates. By replacing the damaged von Willebrand factor in patients, patients can reduce the severity and frequency of bleeding episodes and minimize the risk of anemia, joint damage, and other symptoms.
Autoimmune Diseases
Patients with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis have immune systems that mistakenly attack healthy cells and tissues in the body. This leads to inflammation, tissue damage, and a wide range of symptoms, while more severe cases can cause chronic pain, fatigue, organ dysfunction, and life-threatening complications.
Patients can benefit from immunomodulatory therapies that use plasma to minimize or prevent abnormal immune responses. Intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange adds healthy antibodies and removes the harmful inflammatory mediators, temporarily resetting the immune system. These help alleviate symptoms and manage disease flares.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
This genetic disorder occurs due to issues with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), a protein that protects the lungs from damage caused by enzymes released by immune cells. Patients at risk can develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and liver disease.
Plasma donation assists AAT augmentation therapy by supplying purified AAT protein derived from donated plasma. This can raise the levels of AAT in the blood, protecting the lungs from damage and slowing the progression of lung disease in affected individuals.
Antithrombin III Deficiency
This rare genetic disorder leads to low levels of antithrombin III, a protein that regulates blood clotting. Without adequate antithrombin III activity, patients can develop abnormal blood clots that can lead to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or stroke.
Plasma donations provide patients with healthy antithrombin concentrates with purified antithrombin III protein. Plasma infusions can restore normal anticoagulant activity and prevent excessive blood clotting.
Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that causes inflammation of blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. Patients can experience high fevers, rashes, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and swollen hands and feet. If left untreated, Kawasaki disease can lead to serious complications that could lead to severe heart problems later in life.
Patients receive intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to minimize the effects of the disease. The high levels of antibodies from donated plasma help modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation. This can decrease the risk of coronary artery complications and shorten the duration of fever, improving the outcomes for affected children.
Make a Difference in Someone’s Treatment and Donate Plasma Today
Unlike other materials, plasma cannot be synthesized. Thus, it is an irreplaceable substance, and treatments for these rare diseases may be difficult to provide without generous donors who donate plasma when they can.
Your decision to donate plasma can make a profound difference in the lives of patients facing these challenging conditions. We invite you to join our mission to provide hope and healing to those in need by scheduling your appointment for a plasma donation in Otay Mesa West.
Schedule your appointment with ABO Plasma today and gain the satisfaction of making a huge difference in the lives of recovering patients.