Μake us preferred on Google The sudden death of popular Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis at age 54 after cardiac arrest has brought attention to plasmapheresis, a specialized treatment that he was reportedly scheduled to undergo.
Mazonakis suffered cardiac arrest when a venous catheter was being placed in preparation for the treatment. He was transferred unconscious to Elpis Hospital, where doctors ultimately confirmed his death.
What is plasmapheresis?
Plasmapheresis is a specialized extracorporeal treatment that filters a patient’s blood. During the procedure, plasma, the liquid component of blood, is separated from the blood cells.
The removed plasma is discarded and replaced with solutions such as albumin or donor plasma. The patient’s blood cells are then returned to the body.
The main purpose of the procedure is to rapidly remove harmful substances from the bloodstream. These can include abnormal autoantibodies, toxins, immune complexes and other abnormal proteins.
It is not a general “detox” treatment. Instead, it is a targeted medical intervention used for specific conditions.
Which conditions can it treat?
Plasma exchange is used mainly for serious neurological and blood disorders.
In neurology, it is frequently used for Guillain-Barré syndrome and severe forms of myasthenia gravis. The treatment can rapidly remove antibodies that attack nerves and cause paralysis.
In hematology, it can be a life-saving emergency treatment for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a serious blood disorder. It is also used to treat conditions involving increased blood viscosity and severe kidney disorders.
The procedure can also serve as a bridge treatment until immunosuppressive medications begin to take effect.
What are the risks?
Although plasmapheresis is generally considered safe, it can involve serious complications and requires appropriate medical supervision.
One of the most common complications is a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can cause severe dizziness. This can occur because of rapid changes in blood volume during the treatment.
The use of citrate anticoagulants can bind calcium in the blood and cause severe hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels. A significant reduction in calcium can affect heart function and trigger dangerous arrhythmias. In rare cases, severe hypocalcemia or allergic reactions can lead to cardiac arrest.
Risks are also associated with the placement of the necessary central venous catheter. Insertion can cause a collapsed lung, bleeding, infections or, in rare cases, neurogenic shock, a severe form of circulatory failure caused by disruption of the nervous system’s control of blood vessels.
For these reasons, continuous medical monitoring in appropriately equipped medical units is considered essential for patient safety
