Plasmapheresis Market (2023-2030)

Plasmapheresis is the process of removal, treatment, and return/exchange of plasma from the body's circulatory system. It is performed for either therapeutic purposes or for collecting source plasma for the manufacturing of blood products.

For therapeutic purposes, this procedure is used to treat a variety of conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, blood disorders, and neurologic disorders. Plasmapheresis is carried out using an instrument that separates the plasma from the blood cells. The rising demand for source plasma and plasma exchange procedures for therapeutic purposes is driving demand for plasmapheresis systems globally.

The growth of this market is driven by the rising incidence of autoimmune diseases, increasing demand for source plasma from biopharmaceutical companies, and favorable reimbursement policies for plasmapheresis procedures. In addition, the rising demand for plasmapheresis from emerging countries is expected to provide significant growth opportunities for this market.

However, the high cost of plasmapheresis devices & procedures and the risks associated with plasmapheresis procedures are expected to hinder the growth of this market to a certain extent. In addition, factors such as the lack of awareness about plasmapheresis procedures and limited access and availability in certain regions are the major challenges to the growth of this market.

There is an increasing demand for source plasma from biopharmaceutical companies owing to its use in treating an expanding list of debilitating, chronic and life-threatening disorders. Plasma can be separated from the whole blood with the help of plasmapheresis procedures. The source plasma is utilized by biopharmaceutical companies to produce plasma-derived therapies using plasma-fractionation techniques and several innovative processes.

Plasma-derived therapies are helpful in treating a wide range of chronic and life-threatening diseases. For instance, immunoglobulin (IG) is used to help patients suffering from primary and secondary immunodeficiency disorders and to combat viral and bacterial infections. There is a high demand for source plasma from biopharmaceutical companies with the help of plasmapheresis procedures.

In addition, the growing incidences of various rare diseases such as hereditary angioedema, hemophilia A & B, Von Willebrand disease, primary immunodeficiency disease (PID), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are also driving the demand for plasma-derived products, thereby contributing to the growth of the plasmapheresis market.

During the plasmapheresis procedure, some amount of blood is removed from the human body, and certain replacement fluids such as albumin, fresh frozen plasma (FFP), electrolyte solutions, purified protein products, and starches are infused in the body to maintain intravascular osmotic pressure. The procedure is usually considered safe; however, there are still several risks associated with it. Some of the risk factors associated with the plasmapheresis procedure are the risk of infection, allergic reactions, low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and electrolyte imbalance, among others.

One of the most common side effects associated with the plasmapheresis procedure is the occurrence of hypotension or lowering of blood pressure which causes faintness, blurred vision, dizziness, sweating or abdominal cramps, but these can be controlled if treated immediately.

Some patients feel numbness or tingling around the mouth or nose, owing to the effect of citrate, an anticoagulant, on the calcium level in the body. Occasionally, bleeding can occur during the plasmapheresis procedure because of anticoagulants added to the blood, and if not treated immediately can result in irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest. The replacement fluids sometimes cause an allergic reaction, itching, and rash. It can be treated easily with intravenous medication. These side effects can hamper the repeated adoption of plasmapheresis, which restricts the growth of this market to a certain extent.