Recently, social media has been flooded with advertisements promoting blood filtration and plasma exchange as methods to prevent high cholesterol-related diseases, strokes, and toxin removal. However, medical experts caution against unverified claims.

Scientific evidence on blood filtration therapy

On March 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health held a conference to review the latest scientific evidence regarding the use of blood filtration and plasma exchange in treating high triglycerides and lipid disorders.

According to the Department of Health, misleading advertisements have been circulating online, suggesting that these procedures can help prevent cholesterol-related diseases, strokes, and eliminate toxins in otherwise healthy individuals.

In response, the department invited leading specialists in nephrology, blood filtration, and intensive care from both public and private hospitals - those officially licensed by the Ministry of Health - to discuss the issue.

At the conference, experts unanimously agreed that plasma exchange therapy should continue to follow the recommendations of the American Society for Apheresis. Any expansion of its use would require legal frameworks, strong medical evidence, and approval from regulatory authorities.

They also confirmed that there is currently no sufficient medical evidence or legal basis to support the use of blood filtration or plasma exchange for stroke prevention, cholesterol management, or toxin removal in healthy individuals. More clinical studies are needed to accurately assess its effectiveness and safety for these purposes.

Regulatory compliance and medical guidelines

The Department of Health emphasized that hospitals and clinics must strictly adhere to national medical regulations, particularly in advertising and treatment procedures.

Medical institutions must comply with:

Vietnam’s Medical Examination and Treatment Law and Decree No. 96/2023/NĐ-CP, ensuring all medical activities, including advertisements, meet legal requirements.

Ministry of Health guidelines on medical diagnosis, treatment, and procedural standards, ensuring blood filtration and plasma exchange are used appropriately for patient care.

Legal conditions for new medical techniques, ensuring that any experimental treatments or technologies undergo proper authorization and ethical approvals before being introduced to patients.

The Department of Health has instructed hospital treatment councils to intensify monitoring and evaluation of how blood filtration and plasma exchange are being used, ensuring compliance with Vietnamese healthcare laws.

Ngan Anh