TACLOBAN CITY — The Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) here has expanded its capacity to treat severe neurological conditions after successfully performing two therapeutic plasma exchange procedures on patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG).
The procedures were conducted using the hospital’s newly acquired Terumo Spectra Optia Apheresis machine, obtained in January 2026. EVMC said both patients showed gradual improvement following the treatments.
Also known as plasmapheresis, therapeutic plasma exchange removes plasma containing harmful antibodies that interfere with communication between the nerves and muscles and replaces it with donor plasma or a plasma substitute.
The treatment is commonly used for patients experiencing myasthenic crises or severe symptoms requiring rapid clinical improvement.
Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness, which typically worsens with activity and improves with rest. Although there is no known cure, medications, immunotherapy, surgery and plasmapheresis can help manage the condition and reduce serious complications.
The availability of the procedure at EVMC is expected to reduce the need for patients from Eastern Visayas to travel to major medical centers in Metro Manila or Cebu for specialized treatment. It could also help reduce travel expenses and allow critically ill patients to receive care closer to home.
As the region’s largest government referral hospital, EVMC has continued to expand its specialized medical services through investments in modern equipment and advanced treatment capabilities.
Hospital officials said the introduction of therapeutic plasma exchange strengthens EVMC’s commitment to providing accessible, high-quality and patient-centered healthcare for residents of Eastern Visayas, particularly those with complex neurological conditions.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
