Therapeutic apheresis: An effective strategy for a combined targeting of circulating lipoproteins, inflammatory markers, PFAS, and microplastics in cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative disease?

Published on August 4, 2026 by Bornstein S, Kanczkowski W, Walther R, Kronstein-Wiedemann R, Fischer D, Oikonomakos I, Rodionov R, Tselmin S, Kok Y, Mavberg P, Petriz J, Ward M, Castillo-Aleman Y, Schuster C, Petegorsky M, Hantel C, Beuschlein F, Spinas G, Wuestefeld T, Ramasamy S, Ali Y, Sung J, Tonn T, Siervo M, Aswani A, Barbir M, Aigner L, Morawietz H, Dalan R, Guan K, Wong M, Licinio J, Steenblock C

Key Takeaway

Therapeutic apheresis shows promise as a multi-target therapy to reduce circulating lipoproteins, inflammatory markers, and environmental toxins like PFAS and microplastics in chronic disease.

Bornstein S., Kanczkowski W., Walther R., Kronstein-Wiedemann R., Fischer D., Oikonomakos I., Rodionov R., Tselmin S., Kok Y., Mavberg P., Petriz J., Ward M., Castillo-Aleman Y., Schuster C., Petegorsky M., Hantel C., Beuschlein F., Spinas G., Wuestefeld T., Ramasamy S., Ali Y., Sung J., Tonn T., Siervo M., Aswani A., Barbir M., Aigner L., Morawietz H., Dalan R., Guan K., Wong M., Licinio J., Steenblock C.. (2026). Therapeutic apheresis: An effective strategy for a combined targeting of circulating lipoproteins, inflammatory markers, PFAS, and microplastics in cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative disease?. https://doi.org/10.61373/bh026a.0024

Read the original publication →

What this study found

This study explores the therapeutic potential of therapeutic apheresis—an extracorporeal blood filtration method—as a multi-target intervention. While traditionally used to lower lipid levels, the authors propose that apheresis can simultaneously clear circulating lipoproteins, systemic inflammatory mediators, and persistent environmental pollutants such as PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and microplastics. These substances are increasingly recognized as key drivers of chronic vascular and neurodegenerative pathologies.

Why it matters

For clinicians managing complex, progressive cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative disorders, addressing the cumulative environmental toxic load (the exposome) is a major challenge. Apheresis offers a direct physical clearance mechanism that could:

  • Reduce systemic inflammation: By filtering out pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidized lipids.
  • Mitigate neurodegenerative decline: By lowering the systemic toxic burden that compromises the blood-brain barrier.
  • Support rehabilitation: Enhancing endothelial function and tissue perfusion, which are critical for functional recovery in physical medicine.

Limitations

Despite the promising biological rationale, clinical evidence for using apheresis to target environmental toxins is still preliminary. Rigorous, randomized controlled trials are required to establish standardized protocols, confirm long-term safety, and prove that clearing these compounds translates into measurable clinical improvements rather than just temporary biomarker reduction.

Continue your learning

Myostatin and markers of bone metabolism in dermatomyositis

Patients with dermatomyositis exhibit altered biochemical markers of muscle and bone metabolism alongside functional deficits, highlighting the need for targeted, multi-modal rehabilitation.
Result: Patients with dermatomyositis exhibit altered biochemical markers of muscle and bone metabolism alongside functional deficits, highlighting the need for targeted, multi-modal rehabilitation.

Bone Stress Injuries Are Associated With Differences in Bone Microarchitecture in Male Professional Soldiers

Male soldiers with tibial bone stress injuries exhibit significant deficits in bone microarchitecture, including reduced cortical density and thinner, more irregular trabecular networks.
Result: Male soldiers with tibial bone stress injuries exhibit significant deficits in bone microarchitecture, including reduced cortical density and thinner, more irregular trabecular networks.

Myostatin and other musculoskeletal markers in lung transplant recipients

Even as physical function improves after lung transplantation, persistent abnormalities in biomarkers like myostatin highlight the ongoing need for targeted, long-term musculoskeletal rehabilitation.
Result: Even as physical function improves after lung transplantation, persistent abnormalities in biomarkers like myostatin highlight the ongoing need for targeted, long-term musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

View all studies

Start your recovery today

Contact us