Technical assessment of membrane plasmapheresis in treatment of a patient with IgM paraproteinemia

Issue title: Proceedings of the Third European Conference on Clinical Hemorheology. Part III. Baden-Baden, F.R. Germany, 24–27 August 1983. Symposium IV. Rheological Aspects of Plasma Separation and Plasmapheresis

Guest editors: Alfred L. Copley and Holger Schmid-Schönbein

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lysaght, Michael J. | Samtleben, Walter | Schmidt, Baerbel | Gurland, Hans J.

Affiliations: First Medical Clinic, University Hospital Munich-Grosshadern, P.O. Box 701260, D-8000 Munich 70, Fed. Rep. Germany

Abstract: The microporous membranes and ultrafilters used in cascade filtration membrane plasmapheresis were, in most, developed and qualified using blood of approximately normal composition. It is not a priori evident that these devices will perform satisfactorily when challenged with the high levels of protein concentration associated with hyperviscosity syndrome or paraproteinemia. We describe here the techniques for in-vivo assessment of the efficacy of the primary and secondary membrane plasma filters and illustrate their use via a technical case report of a patient with IgM paraproteinemia.

Keywords: Membrane plasmapheresis, plasmapheresis, apheresis, hyperviscosity syndrome, paraproteinemia, sieving coefficient, cascade filtration

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1985-5105

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 27-33, 1985