deInterview with Ralf Drees, owner of VitaSangius
Editorial team: Long Covid and ME/CFS have become a growing problem in recent years. Many sufferers are desperately looking for effective therapies. You offer a special treatment in the form of VitaSangius apheresis or hemoperfusion. What exactly is behind these procedures?
Drees: Our treatments focus on targeted blood purification through apheresis or hemoperfusion. Put simply, certain undesirable substances that can burden the immune system and increase inflammation are filtered directly from the blood. The aim is to positively influence the blood composition and relieve the body so that it can regenerate better.
Editorial team: Can you explain in more detail how the process works?
Drees: Of course. During apheresis, the patient’s blood is filtered in a closed system outside the body. We take the blood, pass it through a special filter and remove harmful substances such as inflammatory markers, autoantibodies or heavy metals. The purified blood is then returned. Haemoperfusion works in a similar way, but uses special adsorbers to specifically remove toxins and excess molecules from the bloodstream.
Editorial team: Sounds very technical. What do those affected say?
Drees: Many patients report that they feel better after just a few sessions. In fact, our internal data shows that 9 out of 10 patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms. We have feedback such as “finally being able to think more clearly again”, “more energy” or “a significant reduction in fatigue”. These reports show that we offer real added value for patients with our blood purification.
Editorial team: How long does a treatment take?
Drees: The treatment itself usually takes two to three hours. Depending on the patient’s individual state of health and goals, we recommend a series of sessions. We often see significant improvements after just a few sessions, but it depends on the individual case. Diagnostic preliminary work is also important – we need to know the exact causes and stresses in order to adapt the treatment optimally.
Editorial team: Are there certain patients who particularly benefit from the therapy?
Drees: Our experience shows that many long Covid sufferers and ME/CFS patients respond positively to blood purification. These diseases are often associated with chronic inflammatory conditions and dysregulation of the immune system. By removing harmful substances and inflammatory triggers from the bloodstream, we create better conditions for the body’s healing process.
Editor: Is there any scientific evidence for its effectiveness?
Drees: Research into Long Covid and ME/CFS is still in its relative infancy. The positive results we see in practice are consistent with international studies that point to a central role of inflammation, autoantibodies and other pathological factors. While specific long-term studies on apheresis are still ongoing, existing scientific data supports the basic idea of targeted blood purification. Read more here in our Bolg article.
Editorial team: What distinguishes your offer from other treatments?
Drees: Our approach is highly personalized. We rely on comprehensive diagnostics to determine the exact causes. Based on the results, we select the appropriate form of blood purification. We work closely with our patients and adapt the therapy flexibly. This customized approach makes all the difference.
Editorial team: What side effects can occur?
Drees: The treatment is generally very well tolerated. Slight side effects such as tiredness or a slight feeling of cold during treatment can occur, but these are rare and usually only temporary. Our experienced experts carefully monitor the process and are available at all times to ensure that the patient feels comfortable.
Editorial team: How do you see the future of treatment for Long Covid and ME/CFS?
Drees: I am convinced that with apheresis and hemoperfusion we are opening up new ways of dealing with chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. The results of our patients and the growing scientific focus on blood purification procedures are very promising. The aim is to further develop the therapy and respond even more specifically to the individual needs of patients.
Editorial team: Finally, do you have any advice for those affected?
Drees: Don’t give up. Even if the symptoms can be overwhelming – there is hope and approaches that can help. We are at your side to find the best solution for your health together.
Editorial team: Thank you very much for the interview!
