Extracorporeal membrane differential filtration--a new and safe method to optimize hemorheology in acute ischemic stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Can extracorporeal membrane differential filtration be used on patients with acute stroke to optimize their hemorheology without reducing the number of oxygen carriers (erythrocytes) - and is this form of treatment safe?


METHODS
In a prospective pilot study, 10 patients (67+/-4 years) suffering severe middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke were treated with membrane differential filtration, which was first performed within 12 h following the onset of symptoms and repeated three times at intervals of 24 h. Hemorheological parameters were measured before and after each treatment session.


RESULTS
Extracorporeal membrane differential filtration treatment immediately led to a significant and sustained drop in all hemorheological parameters (fibrinogen by 54%, alpha2-macroglobulin by 76%, total cholesterol by 65%, LDL by 82%, and HDL by 38%). Plasma viscosity dropped from 1.3 to 1.1 mPa s, erythrocyte aggregation by 57%. By contrast, hematocrit and the erythrocyte count remained constant. Treatment had no side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Extracorporeal membrane differential filtration is a safe method to optimize hemorheology in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Berrouschot
J
J
Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
Barthel
H
H
Scheel
C
C
Köster
J
J
Schneider
D
D
D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005374:Filtration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002784:Cholesterol