Autologous blood therapy

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Autologous blood therapy, also known as autologous blood injection or autohemotherapy, comprises certain types of hemotherapy using a person's own blood ( auto- + hemo- + therapy ). There are several kinds, the original belonging only to traditional medicine, alternative medicine, and some newer kind of medicine under investigation. The original, unscientific form is "the immediate intramuscular or subcutaneous reinjection of freshly drawn autologous blood". It was used in the early 20th century, when some physicians believed that it had efficacy and a logical mechanism of action; it was abandoned as advancing science made clear that it lacked those. [1]

Contents

The other forms involve some change to the blood before it is reinjected, typically oxygenation, ozonation (ozonated autohemotherapy), [2] [3] ultraviolet light exposure, or centrifugation. Forms include platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and autologous conditioned serum (ACS). [4]

It is possible that ozonated or UV autohemotherapy may have real efficacy and effectiveness in autoimmune diseases, if they are immunomodulatory in some way (such as by interfering with the deranged autoantibodies), [2] but this mechanism of action, if it exists, is not yet well understood; [2] it is also logical that whatever molecular changes the ozone and UV bring about are unlikely to act specifically on just the desired target molecules, meaning that risks are involved.

Although autologous blood donation and plasmapheresis are conceptually analogous, they are differentiated from autologous blood therapy in the autohemotherapy sense of that term, having thoroughly scientific bases.

History

Autohemotherapy use in dermatology was popular in the early 1900s but was abandoned by conventional dermatologists due to a lack of supporting evidence of efficacy. A resurgence of interest in the 2000s [1] has led to several investigations evaluating the use of autohemotherapy as a treatment for specific dermatological conditions such as hives (urticaria) and eczema. [1] A review of these studies concludes that, though safe, autohemotherapy is only somewhat more effective than injection of saline solution. [1]

Scientific research

In 2022, autohemotherapy was studied for its effect on ME/CFS, in which 220 patients were treated with oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy for X weeks, at least two 30min long sessions per week. Significant improvements in ME/CFS were noted at statistically significant p-value < 0.0001. When treated with O2-O3-AHT fatigue symptoms within the first one-two weeks ameliorated from a score value of 7 (meaning the worst) to 1 (meaning the best, i.e., completely absent symptoms) in almost half of the oxygen-ozone treated patients (43.5%). However, researchers did not determine the mechanism of action resulting in patient improvement. The study did not include a control group, making it impossible to know if the treatment had any effect greater than a placebo. No randomized control trial, considered the standard for medical research, has shown ozone autohemotherapy to be effective.

"Vampire facials"

One fringe dermatologic application of autohemotherapy, colloquially called a "vampire facial", came to public attention in 2013 when an Instagram posting by celebrity Kim Kardashian West portrayed her "blood-soaked face" during the administration of the procedure. [5] Kardashian West later stated that she regretted undergoing the painful procedure. [6] A vampire facial procedure involves a combination of microneedling [6] followed by topical application of platelet-rich plasma derived from the centrifugation of the subject's own blood into various autologous blood products. [6] Proponents claim that autologous platelet-rich plasma delivered subcutaneously to the skin of the face can improve its health by stimulating skin cell growth and collagen [5] though the treatment is considered to lie outside of mainstream medicine because claimed benefits are unsupported by scientific evidence from clinical studies. [6] Side effects of the treatment may include redness, swelling, bruising, tenderness, tingling, numbness, lumpiness, and/or a feeling of pressure or fullness at the injection sites [6] which, providers claim, people recover from within two days with outlying reports from patients whose recovery took a week or more with scabbing and other problems. [6]

More serious safety concerns have been cited for these treatments when performed in non-medical settings by people untrained in infection control. [5] [7] The New Mexico Department of Health issued a statement that at least one such business offering vampire facials "could potentially spread blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C to clients.” [5] This was subsequently confirmed by the CDC following a number of HIV infections first reported in 2024. [8]

In contrast, so-called "vampire filler" is autologous platelets used as dermal filler in the platelet-rich fibrin matrix method of cosmetic surgery; [9] it is generally not described as autohemotherapy and the FDA-approved machines for it are approved for use by only licensed surgeons.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whole blood</span> Unseparated donated human blood

Whole blood (WB) is human blood from a standard blood donation. It is used in the treatment of massive bleeding, in exchange transfusion, and when people donate blood to themselves. One unit of whole blood brings up hemoglobin levels by about 10 g/L. Cross matching is typically done before the blood is given. It is given by injection into a vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immune thrombocytopenic purpura</span> Medical condition with rash and bleeding risk

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), also known as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombocytopenia, is an autoimmune primary disorder of hemostasis characterized by a low platelet count in the absence of other causes. ITP often results in an increased risk of bleeding from mucosal surfaces or the skin. Depending on which age group is affected, ITP causes two distinct clinical syndromes: an acute form observed in children and a chronic form in adults. Acute ITP often follows a viral infection and is typically self-limited, while the more chronic form does not yet have a specific identified cause. Nevertheless, the pathogenesis of ITP is similar in both syndromes involving antibodies against various platelet surface antigens such as glycoproteins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozone therapy</span> Unproven alternative medicine

Ozone therapy is an alternative medical treatment that introduces ozone or ozonides to the body. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits all medical uses of ozone "in any medical condition for which there is no proof of safety and effectiveness", stating "ozone is a toxic gas with no known useful medical application in specific, adjunctive, or preventive therapy. In order for ozone to be effective as a germicide, it must be present in a concentration far greater than that which can be safely tolerated by man and animals."

In biology, hemostasis or haemostasis is a process to prevent and stop bleeding, meaning to keep blood within a damaged blood vessel. It is the first stage of wound healing. Hemostasis involves three major steps:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation</span> Medical procedure to replace blood or immune stem cells

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, in order to replicate inside a patient and produce additional normal blood cells. HSCT may be autologous, syngeneic, or allogeneic.

Prolotherapy, also called proliferation therapy, is an injection-based treatment used in chronic musculoskeletal conditions. It has been characterised as an alternative medicine practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cholinergic urticaria</span> Medical condition

Cholinergic urticaria or also known as (CholU) and CU, is a rare form of hives (urticaria) that is triggered by an elevation in body temperature, breaking a sweat, or exposure to heat. It is also sometimes called exercise-induced urticaria or heat hives. The condition is considered to be one of the many rarest forms of allergies known to medical science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rilpivirine</span> HIV treatment

Rilpivirine, sold under the brand names Edurant and Rekambys, is a medication, developed by Tibotec, used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is a second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with higher potency, longer half-life and reduced side-effect profile compared with older NNRTIs such as efavirenz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platelet-rich plasma</span> Blood product used in transfusion medicine

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), also known as autologous conditioned plasma, is a concentrate of plasma protein derived from whole blood, centrifuged to remove red blood cells but retaining platelets. Though promoted for treating various medical conditions, evidence of its benefits was mixed as of 2020, showing effectiveness in certain conditions and ineffectiveness in others.

Cryofibrinogenemia refers to a condition classified as a fibrinogen disorder in which a person's blood plasma is allowed to cool substantially, causing the (reversible) precipitation of a complex containing fibrinogen, fibrin, fibronectin, and, occasionally, small amounts of fibrin split products, albumin, immunoglobulins and other plasma proteins.

The "platelet-rich fibrin matrix" (PRFM) method is a cosmetic surgery procedure involving plasma needling. It is a way of extracting platelets from the patient's own blood and using them as a dermal filler – that is, as a substance injected under the skin of the face to try to fill out wrinkles.

Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) is blood plasma with very low number of platelets (< 10 X 103/μL). Traditionally, PPP was recommended for use in platelet aggregation studies to both adjust the platelet-rich plasma concentration, and to serve as a control. PPP may have elevated levels of fibrinogen, which has the ability to form a fibrin-rich clot once activated. Wound healing requires cell migration and attachment, which is facilitated by this fibrin clot.

Ixekizumab, sold under the brand name Taltz, is an injectable medication for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Chemically, it is a form of a humanized monoclonal antibody. The substance acts by binding interleukin 17A and neutralizing it, reducing inflammation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collagen induction therapy</span> Cosmetic procedure

Collagen induction therapy (CIT), also known as microneedling, dermarolling, or skin needling, is a cosmetic procedure that involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles. CIT should be separated from other contexts in which microneedling devices are used on the skin.

Autologous conditioned serum, also known as Orthokine and Regenokine, is an experimental procedure in which a person's own blood is extracted, manipulated, and then reintroduced with claimed benefit in osteoarthritis. There is limited evidence on safety and effectiveness as of 2017. It is not included in medical guidelines as of 2017. It is a type of autologous blood therapy.

Injectable filler is a special type of substance made for injections into connective tissues, such as skin, cartilage or even bone, for cosmetic or medical purposes. The most common application of injectable fillers is to change one's facial appearance, but they also are used to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis, treat tendon or ligament injuries, support bone and gum regeneration, and for other medical applications. Injectable fillers can be in the form of hydrogel or gels made from pulverized grafts.

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) or leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) is a derivative of PRP where autologous platelets and leukocytes are present in a complex fibrin matrix to accelerate the healing of soft and hard tissue and is used as a tissue-engineering scaffold in oral and maxillofacial surgeries. PRF falls under FDA Product Code KST, labeling it as a blood draw/Hematology product classifying it as 510(k) exempt.

Plasma needling is a minimally invasive aesthetic medical procedure purported to rejuvenate skin, minimize the appearance of hypertrophic and hypotrophic scars and stretchmarks, and reduce pattern hair loss through multimodal physical and biochemical cellular stimulation. It is a combination of classical medical micro-needling by Dermaroller or DermaPen. Both are used in Collagen induction therapy and PRP. The latter is used in Prolotherapy as well as in the Vampire facelift. The effects on fibroblasts, cells, and micro-needling stem cells are published in scientific publications regarding micro-needling, and the injection of PRP, has also been tested as a combined treatment.

Immunoglobulin therapy is the use of a mixture of antibodies to treat several health conditions. These conditions include primary immunodeficiency, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Kawasaki disease, certain cases of HIV/AIDS and measles, Guillain–Barré syndrome, and certain other infections when a more specific immunoglobulin is not available. Depending on the formulation it can be given by injection into muscle, a vein, or under the skin. The effects last a few weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abrocitinib</span> Chemical compound

Abrocitinib, sold under the brand name Cibinqo, is a medication used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema). It is a Janus kinase inhibitor and it was developed by Pfizer. It is taken by mouth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 A Systematic Review of Autohemotherapy as a Treatment for Urticaria and Eczema / Devon D. Brewer, Cureus 6(12): e233. doi:10.7759/cureus.233
  2. 1 2 3 Sheikhi, A; Azarbeig, M; Karimi, H (2014), "Autohemotherapy in chronic urticaria: what could be the autoreactive factors and curative mechanisms?", Ann Dermatol, 26 (4): 526–527, doi:10.5021/ad.2014.26.4.526, PMC   4135115 , PMID   25143689.
  3. Molinari, F; et al. (2014), "Ozone autohemotherapy induces long-term cerebral metabolic changes in multiple sclerosis patients", Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol, 27 (3): 379–389, doi:10.1177/039463201402700308, PMID   25280029, S2CID   23209243.
  4. Wehling, P; Evans, C; Wehling, J; Maixner, W (August 2017). "Effectiveness of intra-articular therapies in osteoarthritis: a literature review". Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease. 9 (8): 183–196. doi:10.1177/1759720X17712695. PMC   5557186 . PMID   28835778.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Jennings, Rebecca (2018-09-14), ""Vampire facials" are massively popular. And — surprise! — potentially dangerous", Vox , retrieved 2019-01-14.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hall, Harriet (3 December 2018). "Vampire Facials". Skeptical Inquirer. CSI. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  7. Robertson, Michelle (2018-09-14). "New Mexico officials urge 'vampire facial' spa clients to get HIV tests". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  8. "CDC describes first known cases of HIV transmitted via 'vampire facial' injections". NBC News. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  9. Sclafani, AP (2011). "Safety, efficacy, and utility of platelet-rich fibrin matrix in facial plastic surgery". Arch Facial Plast Surg. 13 (4): 247–51. doi:10.1001/archfacial.2011.3. PMID   21339469.