Question
Can I undergo plasmapheresis?
10 February 2022. Related: All topics, Disclosure.
Could you please tell me if HIV positive people, taking ARV treatment regularly with CD4 count of 500 and Viral load undetectable can pass through a plasmapheresis procedure (doctor appointed 5 procedures total but he is not aware about my status)? Is it dangerous for ARV concentration in blood?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
There is no contraindication of being HIV positive and plasmapheresis. This meaning it is not dangerous to not tell your doctor. Is there a reason you are not informing your doctor?
Plasmapheresis is a supportive therapy. It can remove antibodies and/or inflammatory mediators from the blood. This is not going to have an impact on HIV.
Josh.
Hello Robert and thanks for getting in touch.
As you probably realise we have changed the wording of your response as the site cannot include offensive language.
The rules for blood products donation are sometimes dated, however, they are in place to ensure the safety of all donations.
Sometimes the society chooses extra measures (even if they are not always needed) to ensure the safety of the people.
For example we ask everyone to wear a seatbelt, even if they are not driving.
As for plasmapheresis: it can be undertaken by people living with HIV.
My colleague has explained above in the comment.
Apologies if I missed the point of your comment.
People with hiv should be able to donate plasma
Hi Makhmood, this is not a readily research area. However a recent case report presented at ICAR shows that dolutegravir remains within required therapeutic ranges while undergoing plasmapheresis.
And what about ARV concentration in blood? can plasmapheresis reduce DTG concentration in blood?