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Acute plasma separation with hemodialysis equipment.
R E Gerhardt1, K A Ntoso, J D Koethe
1Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia 19107.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Plasma separation therapy is safe and effective for acutely ill hospitalized patients, with complication rates comparable to outpatients. The therapy is increasingly used for neurological disorders, suggesting broad applicability.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Plasma separation is established for outpatients but its safety in acutely ill hospitalized patients is less understood.
- Previous studies focused on immunological and hematological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of plasma separation in acutely ill hospitalized patients.
- To analyze trends in patient populations and treated disorders over a 7-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 281 plasma separation treatments in 49 hospitalized patients over 7 years.
- Utilized standard hemodialysis equipment and membrane plasma separators.
Main Results:
- Low incidence of adverse events: 1.4% hypotension, 0.4% hematuria, comparable to outpatient data.
- Significant shift in treated conditions from immunological/hematological to neurological disorders.
Conclusions:
- Plasma separation is a safe and easily performable procedure in acute care settings for institutions with hemodialysis capabilities.
- The therapeutic application of plasma separation is expanding into neurological conditions.