Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), also known as plasmapheresis, is a process used to filter toxic substances out of a patient’s blood plasma. TPE is used in the treatment of a variety of kidney diseases, as well as other conditions of the immune system. In a process that takes about two hours, the blood is drawn and channeled through a machine that separates out the plasma and replaces it with a plasma substitute. The treated blood is then pumped back into the patient’s bloodstream.

Patients receive TPE treatment at the In-Centre Hemodialysis Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital under the care of specially-trained staff. For patients who require it, TPE can be conducted at the same time as hemodialysis.

Contact us

St. Paul's Hospital
6C/D Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-8453
Fax: 604-806-8449