Mass Transfer in Membrane Plasma Exchange

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In vitro and in vivo sieving coefficients (SC) were determined for a spectrum of proteins ranging in MW from 66,000 daltons (albumin) to 2.4 million daltons (.beta.-lipoprotein) using the following 3 commercially available membrane plasma separation devices: the Plasmaflo 01, Plasmaflo 02 and Plasmaflux. A [mathematical] model relating serum level of a protein to pretherapy level, plasma volume, plasma filtration rate, membrane SC and duration of treatment was used to investigate the influence of SC on exchange efficiency. Comparison of predicted and clinically obtained reductions in serum solute levels demonstrated the validity of the model. All 3 plasma separators are capable of delivering equally acceptable therapy. The decreasing effectiveness and increased cost in terms of replacement fluid per unit of solute removed with prolonged treatment times was demonstrated. [Plasma exchange is useful in the removal of pathogenic circulating immune complexes and antibodies to autoantigen in humans.].

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: