title: Peritoneal membrane plasmapheresis.
abstract: A novel process has been devised that uses the peritoneal membrane to remove plasma proteins from the body at a rate comparable to conventional extracorporeal plasma-pheresis. A vasodilator (4 mg histamine phosphate) is added to 1 liter of hypertonic solution (485 mOsmol/L), and infused intraperitoneally with a residence time of 4 hr. Plasma containing proteins is convected across the peritoneum through open pores into the cavity and removed. The next alternating infusion is with a hypotonic solution (214 mOsml/L) containing a vasoconstrictor (1.0 mg norepinephrine). This infusion restores the fluid removed from the subject in the previous exchange, and prevents the rapid fall-off in protein removal rates obtained with repeated infusions with vasodilators only. Peritoneal membrane plasmapheresis was successfully tested on canines, with protein removal rates of between 30% and 50% of total serum protein per day for 13 days over a 22 day period. Peritoneal membrane plasmapheresis represents a potentially inexpensive, continuous/nightly home treatment for protein mediated diseases treatable by extracorporeal plasmapheresis.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Program, University of Texas, Austin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popovich
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moncrief
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006632:Histamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D007700:Kinetics; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism*; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007038:Hypotonic Solutions; D006632:Histamine; C027556:histamine phosphate; D009638:Norepinephrine