Perspectives of the symposium “Hemapheresis”, held in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 10 September 1987

The symposium “Haemapheresis” was held on 10 September 1987 in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Blood Bank “Zuid-West Nederland”. Various aspects of donor and of therapeutic apheresis were discussed.

A main issue is the assessment of indications for the therapeutic use of haemapheresis. Haemapheresis has been attempted as a treatment modality in more than 150 diseases. In a report of the Health Council of the Netherlands “Therapeutic Haemapheresis” issued in 1986, categories have been described for indications (A-F):

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  • Category A pertained to an established indication fulfilling all criteria listed;

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  • Category B holds for an acceptable indication, which is fully proved;

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  • Category C is labelled, to be “an emergency indication”. This means that, although proof of efficacy is lacking, there are certain conditions in which haemapheresis cannot be withheld from a patient;

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  • Category D comprises diseases, in which the indication is not yet established and more randomised clinical trials are needed;

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  • Category E refers to more experimental indications for haemapheresis;

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  • Category F means that there is no indication for haemapheresis. Reports on therapeutic haemapheresis have to be considered within the framework of these guidelines.

In the presentations on donor apheresis an update was given on new developments in technology, including ways to obtain cell components and the side-effects and complications of the procedures.