What is therapeutic phlebotomy used for?

Therapeutic phlebotomy is a medical procedure specifically used to treat certain blood disorders by intentionally withdrawing blood from a patient's body. This process can help reduce excess iron or blood cells, which is beneficial in conditions such as hemochromatosis (excess iron accumulation) or polycythemia vera (an overproduction of red blood cells). By lowering the volume of abnormal cells or substances in the blood, therapeutic phlebotomy helps alleviate symptoms and prevent complications associated with these disorders.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of therapeutic phlebotomy. Increasing blood volume is not a goal of this procedure; instead, it often leads to a decrease in blood volume for therapeutic reasons. Checking blood sugar levels is typically done through other diagnostic methods, such as fingerstick tests or venipuncture for glucose testing, rather than through therapeutic phlebotomy. Routine check-ups involve assessments that do not require the removal of blood unless specified for other tests, and thus are not indicative of the use of therapeutic phlebotomy.