The use of extracorporeal techniques to remove humoral factors in sepsis

To determine whether there is sufficient evidence of a benefit of hemofiltration or plasma filtration in sepsis.

Medline search, search of references in articles found in Medline search, literature known to local experts.

Trials and reports where clinical outcome measures were included.

Clinically relevant information was presented.

Studies were grouped according to hemofiltration or plasma filtration and within each of these groups into animal or human studies; then they were graded from case report, through case series, nonrandomized trials, and randomized trials.

There is a lack of randomized trials. The available studies show an absence of benefit for hemofiltration. Further studies are needed in plasma filtration.