American Society for Apheresis Announces Publication of Fifth Special Edition of the Journal of Clinical Apheresis
The American Society for Apheresis is pleased to announce the publication of the Fifth Special Edition of the Journal of Clinical Apheresis.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 24, 2010
Consistent with ASFA’s vision, the Apheresis Applications Committee of ASFA reviewed the English language peer-reviewed apheresis literature to evaluate the use of apheresis in the treatment of disease. The Committee reviewed diseases with the goal of performing an objective and systematic review of the published evidence. The Committee then assigned a category to each disease, assigned a recommendation grade (based upon the GRADE system) for the use of apheresis to treat the disease, and completed individual disease fact sheets. Each fact sheet serves as a quick reference and includes such information as assigned ASFA category, recommendation grade, disease incidence, number of patients reported to have been treated, types of reports appearing in the medical literature, level of evidence for therapeutic apheresis use, general disease description and treatment, rationale for apheresis, recommended apheresis regimen, and parameters for discontinuation.
“We are excited about this new Special Issue, for two reasons. First, the committee was able to simplify ASFA category descriptions, and second, the introduction of the recommendation grade adds necessary depth to clinical decision making process regarding the use of apheresis,” said co-Editor and ASFA Immediate Past President, Zbigniew M. Szczepiorkowski, MD, PhD, FCAP, adding; “This document will undoubtedly help providers of therapeutic apheresis to further the cause of evidence based medicine and help patients and payors to identify the independently generated valuable resource.”
"ASFA wishes to thank CaridianBCT and Therakos for their support of this publication," said Jeffrey Winters, MD, current ASFA President, further noting; “The support of our vendors is imperative to ASFA’s success.”
The Fifth Special Issue is available for purchase through the ASFA website, www. apheresis. org.
For further information, contact:
Sarah McCarthy, MSc, MBA
Executive Director
American Society for Apheresis
375 West 5th Avenue, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Y 1J6
T 604.484.2851
E asfa(at)apheresis(dot)org
Www. apheresis. org
About the American Society for Apheresis:
The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) is an organization of physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals whose mission is lead the field of apheresis through patient and donor care, research, education and advocacy. Visit www. apheresis. org for further information.
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