Clinical evaluation of the effects of direct hemoperfusion on amino acid profiles

We observed significant changes in serial aminograms during direct hemoperfusion (DHP) in clinical cases and decided to evaluate the effects of the procedure on amino acid profiles. DHP at 100 ml/min was carried out for 6 h in patients with drug intoxications. Pre- and post-column aminograms were obtained 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h from the beginning of DHP. Nonmolecular-weight-dependent adsorption of some amino acids to the column was observed. Methionine (MET), isoleucine (ILE), leucine (LEU), tyrosine (TYR), phenylalanine (PHE) and arginine (ARG) had high adsorption rates. Blood concentrations of TRY, PHE, TRY and histidine (HIS) were significantly reduced. Although both branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids (AAA) were initially adsorbed by the column, AAA recovery was slow.