Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Lung Rapid Recovery Procurement Combined with Abdominal Normothermic Regional Perfusion in Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death
Published on: August 15, 2022
The early start of hemoperfusion decreases the mortality rate among severe COVID-19 patients: A preliminary study
Haleh Mikaeili1, Ali Taghizadieh1, Masoud Nazemiyeh1
1Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Insights
Hemoperfusion significantly reduced mortality in critical COVID-19 patients by removing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Early intervention with hemoperfusion is recommended for severe cases to improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Nephrology
Background:
- COVID-19 can lead to organ failure due to sepsis-like syndromes and cytokine storms.
- Pro-inflammatory cytokine removal is a potential therapeutic strategy for severe COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of hemoperfusion in reducing mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
- To assess the impact of hemoperfusion on clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19.
Main Methods:
- A clinical trial involving 68 severe COVID-19 patients (April-June 2020).
- Patients received standard therapy or standard therapy plus 4-hour hemoperfusion for 3 consecutive days.
- Primary outcomes included hospital stay, mechanical ventilation duration, radiologic resolution, and mortality rate.
Main Results:
- Hemoperfusion significantly reduced mortality rates compared to controls (37.1% vs. 63.6%, p=0.02).
- The mortality reduction was more pronounced in patients with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≥75.
- No significant differences in demographic or baseline characteristics were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Early hemoperfusion can significantly decrease mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
- Hemoperfusion is a promising therapeutic option for managing cytokine storms in severe COVID-19.
Background:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-related organ failure is partly related to a sepsis-like syndrome and extreme pro-inflammatory cytokine release, named cytokine storm. Therapeutic strategies that prevent the production of or remove the pro-inflammatory cytokines could potentially be an effective therapy in critically afflicted COVID-19 patients.
Methods:
In this clinical trial study, from April until June 2020, 68 COVID-19 patients (35 vs. 33 controls) with severe critical symptoms, and PaO2 /FiO2 (P/F) ratio less than 200 mmHg either received a single standard therapy or a combination of standard treatment for COVID-19 combined with hemoperfusion (hemofilter, HA330 D Javfron) for 4 h, in 3 consecutive days. The length of hospital stay and mechanical ventilation, the resolution of radiologic abnormalities, and the mortality rate were defined as the primary outcomes.
Results:
Demographic characteristics, the acute physiology, and chronic health evaluation score of both groups were similar (p > 0.05). Importantly, we noticed a significant mortality rate reduction in the perfused group compared with controls (37.1% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.02), this positive effect was stronger among those with a P/F ratio higher than 75 (mortality rate of 84.7% for P/F ratio < 75 vs. 15.4% for P/F ratio ≥ 75, p = 0.02).
Conclusions:
The results imply that early start of hemoperfusion could be more effective and significantly reduce the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients with critical diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Hemoperfusion and Hemofiltration
01:30Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis
01:24Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
01:25Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management
01:25Hemodialysis I: Introduction