Plasma, a clear, yellowish liquid, forms the largest part of blood, making up about 55% of its total volume. This fluid carries water, salts, enzymes, hormones, and nutrients throughout the body. It also transports proteins, such as antibodies for immunity, clotting factors to stop bleeding, and albumin, which helps maintain blood pressure and fluid balance. Plasma’s components are important for health and medical treatments.
The Medical Applications of Plasma
Plasma and its derived therapies treat various medical conditions. Patients with severe burns, trauma, or significant blood loss often receive plasma transfusions to restore blood volume and provide clotting factors. Plasma is also processed into specialized products for protein deficiencies or immune system dysfunctions.
These therapies include immunoglobulins, which provide antibodies for individuals with immune deficiencies, and clotting factors for those with bleeding disorders like hemophilia. Albumin, another plasma protein, manages fluid balance in conditions like liver disease or severe burns. These treatments support patients with rare, chronic, and complex diseases, especially when other options are limited.
A Single Plasma Donation
Donating plasma, known as plasmapheresis, differs from traditional whole blood donation. During plasmapheresis, blood is drawn from the donor, and a specialized machine separates the plasma from other blood components, like red and white blood cells and platelets. The remaining blood components are returned to the donor.
A single plasma donation typically collects 625 to 880 milliliters, depending on donor weight. For example, donors 110-149 pounds may give up to 625 mL, and those 175 pounds and above can donate up to 880 mL. Donors can donate up to twice weekly, with at least 48 hours between donations, allowing the body to replenish fluids and proteins.
Patient Plasma Requirements
The amount of plasma needed to treat one person varies based on several patient-specific factors. The specific medical condition is important, as different diseases require different plasma-derived products and dosages. For example, a patient with a severe bleeding disorder needs different therapies and quantities than someone with an immune deficiency.
Illness severity also impacts requirements; acute conditions like major trauma or extensive burns often need larger, more immediate plasma volumes. Weight and age further influence dosage, with larger individuals typically needing more plasma or plasma-derived products. Treatment duration is also a factor; some conditions require a single course, while others, like many immune disorders, need ongoing, lifelong infusions.
The Collective Effort of Donors
Treating a single patient with plasma-derived therapies requires the collective contributions of many donors. For example, an adult with primary immunodeficiency needing immunoglobulin therapy may require plasma pooled from thousands of donations for their annual supply. This can mean 130 to 150 plasma donations per year for one adult patient’s immunoglobulin.
Patients with chronic conditions like alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency may need around 900 donations annually, and those with hemophilia can require up to 1,200 donations each year. This substantial need shows that one or two donations are rarely enough. Instead, a continuous, collective effort from many dedicated donors ensures a consistent supply of these therapies, highlighting the ongoing importance of plasma donation.