Clinical Thermofiltration: Initial Application

Guest Editor's Introduction: This paper was submitted for publication in June 1985 and published in the “Thought and Progress” section of Artificial Organs, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1985, pages 425–427. The first clinical thermofiltration procedures (plasma filtration near and above normal physiologic temperature) were performed on a secondary hypercholesterolemia patient. The intent of this filtration scheme is the selective removal of low density lipoprotins (LDL) and maintenance of high density limpoproteins (HDL) and other essential plasma proteins including albumin. The EVAL 4A filter, at a filtration temperature of 37°C, was selected for on‐line thermofiltration. The sieving coefficients of LDL + very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and albumin were 0.02, 0.75, and 0.78, respectively. These results were comparable to in vitro filtration tests using the plasma of the same patient. This system is simple to apply and does not require replacement solution. Compared with plasma exchange, a high return of HDL and other essential plasma solutes can be returned to the patient by this method. Abstract: The first clinical thermofiltration procedures (plasma filtration near or above normal physiologic temperature) were performed on a secondary hypercholesterolemia patient. The intent of this filtration scheme is the selective removal of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and maintenance of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and other essential plasma proteins including albumin. The EVAL 4A filter, at a filtration temperature of 37°C, was selected for on‐line thermofiltration. The sieving coefficients of LDL + very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and albumin were 0.02, 0.75, and 0.78, respectively. These results are comparable to in vitro filtration tests using the plasma of the same patient. This system is simple to apply and does not require replacement solution. Compared with plasma exchange, a high return of HDL and other essential plasma solutes can be returned to the patient by this method.