How to Read ASFA Guideline

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Journal of Clinical Apheresis Special Issue Writing Committee has periodically published guidelines for the use of therapeutic apheresis since 1986. The most recent update is the ninth special issue published in 2023 and is available for clinical use. Therapeutic apheresis (TA) is a treatment modality used in many disease conditions. However, the decision to treat a patient with TA depends on many factors, including patient diagnosis and whether there is a rationale for TA to be used as a treatment modality, its risk-versus-benefit ratio, and the technical aspects of the procedure if apheresis is performed. The guidelines on the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice are updated every 3 years and are based on the most up-to-date medical literature addressing the rationale and the technical aspect of apheresis. These guidelines are meant to help with clinical decision-making in apheresis consultations and encourage research on its use for novel indications. The format used for the different disease conditions is one-page fact sheet. In this chapter, the development and application of these fact sheets in these guidelines and how to read them are discussed, with an example for each of ASFA’s four categories.