Effects of plasmapheresis frequency on health status and exercise performance in men: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Vox sanguinis Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 134 - 143
• Main Authors: Mortier, Alexandre, Khoudary, Jina, Dooslaer de Ten Ryen, Sophie, Lannoy, Camille, Benoit, Nicolas, Antoine, Nancy, Copine, Sylvie, Van Remoortel, Hans, Vandekerckhove, Philippe, Compernolle, Veerle, Deldicque, Louise
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2024; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: albumin; Apheresis; Blood pressure; Body composition; Clinical trials; donor selection; Erythrocytes; Ferritin; Hematocrit; Hematology; Hemoglobin; IgG antibody; immunoglobulin; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulins; maximum oxygen consumption; maximum power output; Physiology; Plasma; Plasma levels; Plasmapheresis; Pressure effects; Reticulocytes; Very high frequencies; donor selection; immunoglobulin; albumin; maximum power output; maximum oxygen consumption
• ISSN: 0042-9007; 1423-0410; 1423-0410
• DOI: 10.1111/vox.13569

Background and Objectives Most research studies on the effects of repeated plasma donation are observational with different study limitations, resulting in high uncertainty on the link between repeated plasma donation and health consequences. Here, we prospectively investigated the safety of intensive or less intensive plasma donation protocols. Materials and Methods Sixty‐three male subjects participated in this randomized controlled trial and were divided into low‐frequency (LF, once/month, n = 16), high‐frequency (HF, three times/month, n = 16), very high‐frequency (VHF, two times/week, n = 16) and a placebo (P, once/month, n = 15) groups. Biochemical, haematological, clinical, physiological and exercise‐related data were collected before (D0), after 1½ months (D42) and after 3 months (D84) of donation. Results In VHF, red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels decreased while reticulocyte levels increased from D0 to D84. In both HF and VHF, plasma ferritin levels were lower at D42 and D84 compared to D0. In VHF, plasma levels of albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) dropped from D0 to D42 and remained lower at D84 than at D0. In HF, plasma IgG, IgA and IgM were lower at D42, and IgG and IgM were lower at D84, compared to D0. Few adverse events were reported in HF and VHF. Repeated plasma donation had no effect on blood pressure, body composition or exercise performance. Conclusion VHF plasmapheresis may result in a large reduction in ferritin and IgG levels. HF and VHF plasmapheresis may result in little to no difference in other biochemical, haematological, clinical, physiological and exercise‐related parameters.