leucapheresis


leuk·a·phe·re·sis

(lū'kă-fĕr-ē'sis) A procedure, analogous to plasmapheresis, in which leukocytes are removed from the withdrawn blood and the remainder of the blood is retransfused into the donor.
Synonym(s): leucapheresis. [leuko- + G. aphairesis, a withdrawal]

leucapheresis

A method of harvesting white cells from a compatible donor for the treatment of uncontrollable infection in a patient with acute LEUKAEMIA. White cells for this purpose can be obtained from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia.