Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025

A Novel Inhalation Mask System to Deliver High Concentrations of Nitric Oxide Gas in Spontaneously Breathing Subjects
Published on: May 4, 2021
Blood purification could tackle COVID-19?
Hiroyuki Yamada1,2, Shigeru Ohtsuru3
1Department of Primary Care and Emergency Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 6068507, Japan. hyamada@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Insights
Severe COVID-19 treatment is challenging. Blood purification techniques, including plasma exchange and hemoperfusion, show promise in managing critical illness by targeting cytokines and coagulopathy.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The global impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitates advanced treatment strategies for severe cases.
- Blood purification is a recognized modality for managing critical illnesses, offering theoretical benefits for COVID-19.
- Key challenges in severe COVID-19 include managing cytokine storms and coagulopathy.
Discussion:
- Therapeutic plasma exchange has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients.
- Other blood purification methods, such as Cytosorb, AN69 membranes, and polymyxin B hemoperfusion, show considerable potential.
- These techniques may mitigate the systemic inflammatory response and correct coagulopathies associated with severe COVID-19.
Key Insights:
- Blood purification offers a promising avenue for managing severe COVID-19.
- Specific techniques like plasma exchange, Cytosorb, AN69, and polymyxin B hemoperfusion warrant further investigation.
- Effective management of cytokines and coagulopathy is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Outlook:
- Further clinical research is essential to confirm the efficacy and optimal application of blood purification in COVID-19.
- Standardization of blood purification protocols for COVID-19 may improve treatment effectiveness.
- Exploring the synergistic effects of combined blood purification techniques could offer enhanced therapeutic benefits.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threatened human lives worldwide since first reported. The current challenge for global intensivists is to establish an effective treatment for severe COVID-19. Blood purification has been applied to the treatment of various critical illnesses. Theoretically, its technique also has an enormous possibility of treating severe COVID-19 in managing inflammatory cytokines and coagulopathy. Recent clinical studies have revealed the positive clinical effect of therapeutic plasma exchange. Other studies have also indicated the considerable potential of other blood purification techniques, such as Cytosorb, AN69 surface-treated membrane, and polymyxin b hemoperfusion. Further research is needed to elucidate the actual effects of these applications.
Related Concept Videos
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Hemoperfusion and Hemofiltration
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Dialysis

