Multiple use of plasmafilters.

Abstract

The practice of multiple use of membrane plasmafilters was examined in six patients receiving intermittent or regular plasmapheresis treatment. The plasmafilters were cleaned by flushing and ultrafiltration using positive pressure in the blood and filtrate compartments of the plasmafilter. Twenty-six plasmafilters were studied and the membrane permeability characteristics were examined during 56 plasmapheresis treatments with reused plasmafilters. The clearances of nitrogen urea and creatinine, and the sieving coefficients of albumin and immunoglobulins remained unchanged with the reuse of plasmafilters. The practice is safe, efficient, and can contribute to cost containment in plasmapheresis treatment.