apheresis

noun

aphe·​re·​sis ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs How to pronounce apheresis (audio)
plural aphereses ˌa-fə-ˈrē-ˌsēz How to pronounce apheresis (audio)
: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more blood components (such as plasma, platelets, or white blood cells), and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

Examples of apheresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Some healthcare providers may use a red blood cell apheresis exchange to get rid of harmful red blood cells using a machine.1011 SCD is a condition that often becomes more severe over time. Maggie Aime, Msn, Health, 20 Sep. 2024 Patients first have their blood stem cells removed through a process called apheresis; the cells are then shipped off to a company-run manufacturing lab where they are edited. Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 8 Dec. 2023 Though, as of the 29th of March, several beta thalassemia patients have entered the apheresis process (extraction of cells for modification via gene therapy). Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 3 May 2023 For a patient receiving CAR T therapy, the process may begin with a medical professional drawing their blood and separating T cells from that sample using apheresis; this would be an autologous treatment, as the cells used originate from the same patient. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022 See all Example Sentences for apheresis 

Word History

Etymology

from -apheresis (as in plasmapheresis)

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of apheresis was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near apheresis

Cite this Entry

“Apheresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apheresis. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

apheresis

noun
aphe·​re·​sis
ˌa-fə-ˈrē-səs
plural aphereses -ˌsēz How to pronounce apheresis (audio)
: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more components (as plasma, blood platelets, or white blood cells) from the blood, and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor

called also pheresis

see leukapheresis, plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis

More from Merriam-Webster on apheresis

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