Guidelines on the Use of Therapeutic Apheresis in Clinical Practice – Evidence‐Based Approach from the Writing Committee of the American Society for Apheresis: The Eighth Special Issue

TLDR

The ASFA Writing Committee reviews and updates evidence‑based indications for therapeutic apheresis, building on systematic reviews introduced in 2007 and maintaining the fact‑sheet format established in earlier editions. The Eighth Edition aims to provide a key, evidence‑based resource that recommends therapeutic apheresis for a wide range of diseases and conditions. The edition applies the established category and grading system in fact sheets that concisely summarize evidence for therapeutic apheresis in each disease or condition. The Eighth Edition comprises 84 fact sheets covering 157 graded and categorized indications and/or therapeutic apheresis modalities.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Journal of Clinical Apheresis (JCA) Special Issue Writing Committee is charged with reviewing, updating and categorizing indications for the evidence‐based use of therapeutic apheresis (TA) in human disease. Since the 2007 JCA Special Issue (Fourth Edition), the committee has incorporated systematic review and evidence‐based approaches in the grading and categorization of apheresis indications. This Eighth Edition of the JCA Special Issue continues to maintain this methodology and rigor in order to make recommendations on the use of apheresis in a wide variety of diseases/conditions. The JCA Eighth Edition, like its predecessor, continues to apply the category and grading system definitions in fact sheets. The general layout and concept of a fact sheet that was introduced in the Fourth Edition, has largely been maintained in this edition. Each fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of TA in a specific disease entity or medical condition. The Eighth Edition comprises 84 fact sheets for relevant diseases and medical conditions, with 157 graded and categorized indications and/or TA modalities. The Eighth Edition of the JCA Special Issue seeks to continue to serve as a key resource that guides the utilization of TA in the treatment of human disease.