Neutrophil adherence during hemoperfusion in fulminant hepatic failure

Neutrophil adherence to nylon fibre packed in plastic syringes was determined in blood from patients with fulminant hepatic failure, both before and during charcoal hemoperfusion carried out with prostacyclin infusion and resin hemoperfusion without prostacyclin. During charcoal hemoperfusion there was a progressive decrease in neutrophil adherence, reaching the lowest value at 4 h (30.4 +/- SE 4.8%). After completion of hemoperfusion the adherence value returned to the pre-perfusion level (53.0 +/- 8.4%). These effects are probably attributable to the PGI2 infusion. No marked changes in neutrophil adherence were observed during resin hemoperfusion.