Content
Hemotherapy is a type of treatment in which a predetermined amount of blood is collected from one person and, after processing and analysis, blood components can be transfused to another person, helping to treat the disease and improve the person.
In addition to hemotherapy, there is also auto-hemotherapy, in which the blood sample is taken from the person who is going to receive the treatment. However, auto-hemotherapy, although it seems to have some benefits, the technique is not recommended by Anvisa, according to a technical note released in 2017 [1], due to the fact that there are not enough scientific studies to prove its long-term benefits. and effects on a larger population.
Differences between hemotherapy and autohemotherapy
Hemotherapy is an important procedure in the treatment of cancer and blood disorders, such as hemophilia, for example, and consists of collecting a predetermined amount of blood, which is analyzed, processed and stored in the laboratory.
In this procedure, blood components are used for transfusion, which can be whole blood, plasma or platelets, and can also be used to produce coagulation factors and immunoglobulins, which are proteins that act in the defense of the organism.
In the case of auto-hemotherapy, blood is collected and re-applied to the person's own muscle, usually in the glutes, generating a rejection response and favoring the performance of the immune system. As the objective of this treatment is to fight diseases by activating the immune system, to further stimulate immunity, blood could be treated with ultraviolet radiation or ozone, for example, before being reinjected.
However, autohemotherapy is different from autologous transfusion, in which the person's blood is collected in a transfusion bag and, after processing, is stored in the laboratory for use in the person's own transfusions.
Although auto-hemotherapy is an old practice and there are reports that it works, its realization is not recognized by the Federal Council of Medicine, Federal Council of Pharmacy and the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, and, therefore, is not authorized by Anvisa, due to the lack of scientific evidence.
Why can autohemotherapy work?
The beneficial effect of autohemotherapy seems to be related to the fact that it stimulates a rejection response from the body when blood is injected into the muscle, which stimulates the performance of the immune system. In addition, it is believed that when blood is injected back into the body, the body begins to attack that blood because it contains traces of the disease that is developing. When this happens, the body could gain greater resistance against the disease and therefore be able to eliminate it more quickly.
A study carried out in 2019 by a group of researchers from Spain [2] studied the effects of autohemotherapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia. For this, they collected 150 mL of blood and treated it with 150 mL of ozone before being reinjected into the person, because ozone would be able to stimulate the immune system more effectively, in addition to fighting free radicals.
Despite having positive results related to the improvement of symptoms, the study was carried out with only 20 people, not being enough to confirm the effects of auto-hemotherapy on fibromyalgia, requiring further studies with a larger population.
Despite being advised against by ANVISA and not recognized as a clinical practice by the councils of medicine, pharmacy and the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, research related to auto-hemotherapy is encouraged, as it is possible that there is scientific evidence that affirms which indications of practice, contraindications, adequate dosage, time of treatment and adverse reactions, for example.
As soon as sufficient information is available, auto-hemotherapy can be studied again by regulatory bodies and be evaluated in relation to its safety and effects in the short, medium and long term.
What is it for
The hemotherapy process can be done in several situations, being more often performed in the treatment of people who have suffered accidents and lost a lot of blood, during and after major surgeries and in people who suffer from blood-related diseases, such as leukemia, anemia , lymphoma and purple, for example.
Although it has no proven effects, it is believed that auto-hemotherapy could be used as an alternative treatment for several diseases such as fibromyalgia, bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and gout, for example. In addition, it is believed that to promote the results of this type of therapy, ozone blood or medicinal plant preparations could be added to obtain greater relief of symptoms.
What are the health risks
Hemotherapy does not normally represent risks for the donor and the recipient, however, it is important that they are compatible so that there are no reactions related to the transfusion process.
Although it seems to have several benefits for the treatment of several diseases, auto-hemotherapy is not approved by ANVISA and, therefore, should not be used.
The risks of autohemotherapy are related to the lack of information about the procedure, especially with regard to the indications, contraindications, dosage, side effects and concentration of components that can be added to the blood before injection into the muscle. In addition, as the blood does not undergo any processing or treatment, there is also a risk of transmitting infectious diseases.