extracorporeal photopheresis

Extracorporeal photopheresis is a medical treatment that involves collecting a patient’s blood, separating out white blood cells, and then exposing these cells to a special light after they are treated with a photosensitive drug. This process activates the cells, which are then returned to the patient’s bloodstream. The procedure helps modify the immune system's response, making it useful for conditions like graft-versus-host disease and certain skin disorders. It’s a carefully controlled way to regulate immune activity without affecting the entire body, often used when other treatments haven’t been effective.