Protein Therapies Did you know that a large number of patients depend on protein therapies derived from human plasma and blood donors in Canada? Donors are required because large volumes of plasma, the liquid portion of blood are needed to treat a wide variety of diseases. For example: 1200 plasma donations are required to treat one patient with hemophilia, a bleeding disorder. 130 donations to treat one patient with primary immunodeficiency, a condition where people cannot make functional antibodies to fight infections. 900 donations are required to treat one alpha-1 patient, a disorder that affects the lungs. These therapies replace missing or defective proteins in patients with rare disorders so they can lead healthier and otherwise normal lives. They typically require on-going infusions throughout their lives as they are chronic diseases so plasma is always required.
Bill Bees, Vice- President, Plasma Technology, www.plasma.prometic.com