Segmental citrate anticoagulation for double-filtration plasmapheresis: A case report and literature review

Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) has been widely used in patients with high-risk bleeding for anticoagulation in renal replacement therapy. However, scientific reports on the use of RCA in double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) are limited. In the available reports, anticoagulation was not performed in the plasma component separator. However, as demonstrated in the present study, during the treatment of a patient with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, although RCA was used for DFPP, coagulation occurred in the plasma component separator, resulting in the interruption of treatment. Thus, segmental citrate anticoagulation (SCA) was used and the filter was successfully prevented from clotting again. The present study demonstrates that SCA can more effectively prevent the clogging of the plasma separator and the plasma component separator, thereby maintaining the continuity of treatment and avoiding treatment interruption.