Article

Guidelines on the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice--evidence-based approach from the Apheresis Applications Committee of the American Society for Apheresis.

Transfusion Medicine Service, Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA.
Journal of Clinical Apheresis (impact factor: 1.93). 01/2010; 25(3):83-177. DOI:10.1002/jca.20240 pp.83-177
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Apheresis Applications Committee is charged with a review and categorization of indications for therapeutic apheresis. Beginning with the 2007 ASFA Special Issue (fourth edition), the subcommittee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approach in the grading and categorization of indications. This Fifth ASFA Special Issue has further improved the process of using evidence-based medicine in the recommendations by refining the category definitions and by adding a grade of recommendation based on widely accepted GRADE system. The concept of a fact sheet was introduced in the Fourth edition and is only slightly modified in this current edition. The fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of therapeutic apheresis. The article consists of 59 fact sheets devoted to each disease entity currently categorized by the ASFA as category I through III. Category IV indications are also listed.

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Keywords

2007 ASFA Special Issue
 
59 fact sheets
 
American Society
 
ASFA
 
categorization
 
category definitions
 
Category IV indications
 
current edition
 
evidence-based approach
 
evidence-based medicine
 
fact sheet succinctly summarizes
 
Fifth ASFA Special Issue
 
GRADE system
 
grading
 
recommendations
 
systematic review
 
therapeutic apheresis