title: Management of immune-mediated and paraproteinemic diseases by membrane plasma separation and cascade filtration.
abstract: Membrane plasma separation was utilized in the management of 19 patients with autoimmune, immune complex or paraproteinemic diseases. In these patients 34 procedures were carried out employing a new filter composed of polyvinyl alcohol hollow fibers with a nominal pore size of 0.4 micrometer. Cascade filtration was performed in 23 procedures using a second filter built up with ethylenevinylalcohol copolymer hollow fibers with a nominal pore size of 0.1-0.2 micrometer. Both filters employed showed a very good biocompatibility, and no untoward effect was observed. Using the differential sieving effect of cascade filtration it was possible to eliminate circulating immune complexes and immunoglobulin M without the loss of necessary plasma components.
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000628:therapy; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008851:Micropore Filters; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014462:Ultrafiltration / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005340:Fibrinogen