Evaluation of a new filter for membrane plasma separation (Preliminary observations)

A new plasma filter for membrane plasma separation was used in 10 patients with the following diagnoses: relapsing Guillain-Barré syndrome (one patient), multiple sclerosis (one patient), myasthenia gravis (two patients), cryoglobulinemia (two patients), rheumatoid arthritis (one patient) and psoriasis (three patients). In all patients but one the plasma flow was from 975 to 1,370 ml/h; extremely high levels of cryoglobulins were the cause of filter plugging during a single procedure. The composition of the effluent plasma was not significantly different from the patients' plasma as regards protein electrophoresis and the levels of immune complexes, immunoglobulins and complement. No platelet activation or blood clotting within the processed blood was observed during 20 procedures. No elevation of lysozyme levels or changes in the osmotic fragility of the red blood cells were found, confirming the excellent biocompatibility of these new filters. The clinical results were consistent with the volumes of plasma exchanged and the clinical diagnoses.