Anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin) in plasmapheresis therapy: initial experience.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to other extracorporeal treatments no established regime exists for anticoagulation with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in plasmapheresis therapy. A study was conducted to investigate whether LMWH (dalteparin-Na) is suitable as an effective anticoagulant in plasmapheresis therapy.


METHODS
Eleven patients with autoimmune neurological diseases and the necessity for a plasmapheresis therapy were enrolled. A capillary membrane filter was used. A total of 2000 mL of human plasma was isovolumetrically exchanged per plasmapheresis cycle. The anticoagulation was accomplished with a single bolus of LMWH (dalteparin) of 80 to 90 IU per kg of body weight. The system was visually monitored. Anti-factor (F)Xa activity, thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F 1+2) were determined at regular intervals. Samples were taken from the collected plasma pool to determine the loss of LMWH during the plasmapheresis procedure.


RESULTS
All plasmapheresis cycles with LMWH were successful without complications. Approximately 40 percent of the initially administered LMWH bolus was lost by the large porous filter during the plasmapheresis. The anti-FXa values were determined to be 0.5 IU per mL during the entire plasmapheresis. TAT values were elevated (TAT median, 14.3 microg/L). F 1+2 values measured before the filter cartridge remained within the normal range for the entire plasmapheresis cycle (<1.2 nmol/L) and were increasingly elevated after the filter.


CONCLUSIONS
Our initial experiences with LMWH for anticoagulation in plasmapheresis indicate that a body weight adjusted dose of LMWH (dalteparin) is suitable for anticoagulation in plasmapheresis therapy. No complications were observed. The data are encouraging. Further investigations will show if and how the present anticoagulation regime could be further optimized.
Schinzel
Helmut
H
Medical Clinic and Policlinic II, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany. schinzel@2-med.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Berghoff
Karin
K
Beuermann
Ingrid
I
Sauer
Oliver
O
von Mach
Marc-Alexander
MA
Weilemann
Ludwig Sacha
LS
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017985:Dalteparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017985:Dalteparin