Plasma donations earn teen a place in medical history: landmark case
The US teen swelled her legs rather than her bank account when she donated plasma twice weekly for money
A teenager in the US was made to swear off donating plasma when she became the first reported case of lower extremity oedema following a string of donations in quick succession.
The otherwise healthy adolescent had started donating plasma two weeks before presentation and had donated twice weekly, receiving normal IV saline each time, her doctors say.
The patient took up the practice for the monetary incentive, which is legal in the US.
But shortly after, she presented with a one-week history of bilateral pitting ankle oedema along with discomfort and tightness, but no tenderness, overlying erythema or discolouration.
