What is plasma?
Plasma is the fourth state of matter. Many places teach that there are three states of matter; solid, liquid and gas, but there are actually four. The fourth is plasma. To put it very simply, a plasma is an ionized gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow both species, ions and electrons, to coexist. The funny thing about that is, that as far as we know, plasmas are the most common state of matter in the universe. They are even common here on earth. A plasma is a gas that has been energized to the point that some of the electrons break free from, but travel with, theirnucleus. Gases can become plasmas in several ways, but all include pumping the gas with energy. A spark in a gas will create a plasma. A hot gas passing through a big spark will turn the gas stream into a plasma that can be useful. Plasma torches like that are used in industry to cut metals. The biggest chunk of plasma you will see is that dear friend to all of us, the sun. The sun's enormous heat rips electrons off the hydrogen and helium molecules that make up the sun. Essentially, the sun, like most stars, is a great big ball of plasma.
Plasma is the fluid part of blood and makes up most of the volume. It contains substances that can be used to treat different conditions.
Blood is made up of four elements, which each perform a different function:
- red blood cells – these carry oxygen around the body and remove carbon dioxide
- white blood cells – these help the body fight infection
- platelets – these tiny cell fragments trigger the process that causes the blood to clot (thicken)
- plasma – this yellow fluid transports blood cells and platelets around the body and contains a number of substances, including proteins
What is plasma?
Plasma is the largest component of blood, making up about 55% of its overall content. It is mainly made up of water and surrounds the blood cells, carrying them around the body.
Plasma also stores body fluids, helps maintain blood pressure and regulates body temperature. It contains a complex mix of substances used by the body to perform important functions. These substances include:
- minerals
- salts
- proteins
- hormones
Three important proteins are found in plasma:
- albumin
- clotting (coagulation) factors
- immunoglobulins
Uses of plasma products
The following plasma products can be used to treat a variety of different conditions.
Albumin
Albumin cleans the blood, carries substances around the body and helps to maintain the correct amount of fluid circulating in the body.
Human albumin solution can be used as a treatment to help people with severe burns, or with liver or kidney disease.
Clotting factors
Clotting (coagulation) substances, called factors, help to control bleeding and work together with blood platelets to ensure that the blood clots effectively.
Fresh frozen plasma and clotting factors can be used to treat blood clotting disorders such as haemophilia, an inherited condition in which the lack of a specific clotting factor can cause prolonged bleeding.
Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins are part of the immune system (the body’s natural defence against illness and infection).
Immunoglobulins are antibodies that the body produces to fight unwanted viruses and bacteria. For example, they are used to fight health conditions such as:
- tetanus – a serious but usually short-lived bacterial infection
- hepatitis – a viral infection that causes the liver to become inflamed (swollen)
- rabies – an infection of the central nervous system that is passed on to humans from infected animals
Normal human immunoglobulins can be used to support people who are having cancer treatment when their immune system is having difficulty producing antibodies.
Plasma is the source of anti-D immunoglobulin, a substance often given by injection to pregnant women with a rhesus negative blood group (RhD negative) and whose unborn baby may have a rhesus positive blood group (RhD positive).
This treatment prevents the mother becoming sensitised to the baby’s blood and stops immune anti-D developing. Immune anti-D can cause rhesus disease in subsequent pregnancies, which is a potentially fatal condition.
How are plasma products used?
Plasma products can be used in a number of different ways, depending on the condition they are being used to treat.
The main uses of plasma products include:
- fresh frozen plasma transfusion – plasma is separated from donated blood and frozen until needed, it is then thawed under controlled conditions and transfused to the recipient
- plasma exchange – a special machine is used to remove plasma from the blood, the plasma is then replaced with a substitute plasma product
- fractionation – removed plasma is treated to separate it into different proteins, these can then be used to treat certain conditions
Read more about how plasma products are used.
Risks of using plasma products
Some people can experience further problems after a plasma transfusion.
These can vary in severity from a slight temperature rise, to the development of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in very rare cases.
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