Plasma
For plasma donation awareness week, we have compiled some information that we think you might find interesting.
History
In 1994, a team of surgeons applied autologous plasma to the spongy tissue of a mandibular bone.
Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a possible treatment for wound healing because it has components such as fibrin and high concentrations of growth factors (PRGF) that help in healing and bone regeneration.
Two years later, scientists Mark and Cols concluded that PRP increased the concentration of platelets (cells responsible for healing wounds) in the tissues, and regenerated the cells due to its enormous reserves of bioactive proteins.
As a result, the bone was able to consolidate much more quickly than with other treatments.
What is?
It is a liquid component of the blood that contains valuable information about the entire organism.
We could say that it is a biological treasure that transports essential elements, including blood cells, nutrients and, especially, proteins, which it distributes to all organs.
This unique vital liquid can potentially be the basis for the treatment of many diseases and, therefore, be key to improving people’s quality of life.
There are five types of cells in the blood:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Platelets
- Organic compounds
- Electrolytes
What is plasma made of?
Plasma is a yellowish, almost transparent component of blood.
- Represents 55% of the total volume of blood.
- Water makes up 90% of the volume of plasma.
- Proteins represent 9% of the total plasma and are responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of our body.
- 1% are nutrients and gases.
Plasma proteins
The proteins found in plasma perform an important function in our system, and we mainly find:
- Albumin: transports hormones and drugs and takes them to the tissues.
- Coagulation factors: responsible, together with platelets, for stopping bleeding when we get a wound.
- Immunoglobulins: serve to defend us from infections.
What is plasma used for?
In most cases, it is used to treat people who have suffered severe burns, or those who need a transfusion due to a serious accident or illness.
In general, it is a great discovery that saves the lives of thousands of people every day, and it is especially used for people with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), immunoglobulin deficiency, autoimmune diseases and other rare diseases.
To treat these people, plasma is basically transfused from healthy people to patients to improve the immune response or the blood clotting capacity. To treat a patient with AATD for one year, between 130 and 1,200 donations are required.
DONATE PLASMA, SAVE LIVES
How much plasma does a person have?
Normally, a person weighing 70 kilos has about 3 liters of plasma.
Donation
Donation consists of extracting blood, separating the blood cells using a cell separator, retaining the plasma and returning the rest to the donor by the same means.
It is frozen at -40º until it is transfused to patients or manufactured as drugs.
How long does it take? About 45 minutes.
How often can you donate?
As it is mostly water, the donor’s recovery is very fast and donations can be more frequent.
You can donate every 15 days.
Although if you have given blood before, you must always wait a month for your next donation.
To donate plasma, the same requirements must be met as to be a blood donor:
- Be between 18 and 70 years old
- Weigh more than 50 kilos
- Be in good health.
- If you are a woman, you must not be pregnant.
What type of blood is most suitable?
All blood types are valid, although group AB is the universal plasma donor, compatible with all recipients.
We need everyone’s collaboration, it doesn’t cost anything, but you will get a huge reward for helping so many people improve their quality of life.
Source: Centro Andaluz Alfa 1