__NOTOC__ In medicine,<unk>  (aka extracorporeal<unk>  or ECP) is a form of apheresis and photodynamic therapy in which blood is subject to apheresis to separate buffy coat (WBC + platelets) from whole blood, chemically treated with 8-methoxypsoralen (instilled into a collection bag or given per os in advance), exposed to ultraviolet light (UVA), and then returned to the patient. Activated 8-methoxypsoralen crosslinks DNA in exposed cells, ultimately resulting apoptosis of nucleated cells. The photochemically damaged T-cells returned to the patient appear to induce cytotoxic effects on T-cell formation. The mechanism of such “antitumor” action has not been elucidated. A 1987 New England Journal of Medicine publication introduced<unk>  involving 8-methoxypsoralen., now standard U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Evidence suggests that this treatment might help treat graft-versus-host disease, though this evidence is largely observational; controlled trials are needed to support this use.<unk>  has also been successful in treating epidermolysis bullosa acquisita when all other treatments have been ineffective. Minimal observed side effects for patients receiving<unk>  include hypotension and syncope resulting from volume shifts during leukapheresis phase of treatment.<unk>  is also an experimental treatment for patients with cardiac, pulmonary and renal allograft rejection, graft-versus-host disease, autoimmune diseases, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and ulcerative colitis.
Photopheresis
Rheopheresis
Apheresis
Aquapheresis
Plateletpheresis
Afamelanotide
Autosplenectomy
Plasmapheresis