title: Coupled Plasma Filtration Adsorption (CPFA) plus Continuous Veno-Venous Haemofiltration (CVVH) versus CVVH alone as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of Coupled Plasma Filtration and Adsorption (CPFA) plus Continuous Veno-Venous Haemofiltration (CVVH) versus CVVH alone as an adjunct treatment of sepsis in terms of haemodynamic stability, inotropic requirement and inflammatory mediators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized controlled trial involving septic patients with/without acute kidney injury (AKI) whom were randomized to receive CPFA + CVVH or CVVH alone. Haemodynamic parameters including inotropic requirements and inflammatory mediators [procalcitonin (PCT) and C reactive protein (CRP)] were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients [CPFA + CVVH (n = 11), CVVH (n = 12)] were enrolled. Haemodynamic stability occurred earlier and sustained in the CPFA + CVVH group with an increase in diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.001 vs. p = 0.226) and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.001 vs. p = 0.575) at the end of treatment with no increment in inotropic requirement. Both groups had a reduction in PCT and CRP (CPFA + CVVH: p = 0.003, p = 0.026 and CVVH: p = 0.008, p = 0.071 respectively). The length of intensive care unit stay, hospital stay and 30 day outcomes were similar between the groups. There was an inverse association between serum albumin and CRP (p = 0.018). Serum albumin positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (p = 0.012) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.009). We found a trend between CRP and length of hospital stay (p = 0.056). Patients with a lower PCT at 24 h had a better outcome (survival) than those with a higher PCT (p = 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CPFA is a feasible, albeit expensive adjunctive extracorporeal treatment that may be superior to CVVH alone in the treatment of severe sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Juita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rizna Abdul
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cader
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norella Ct
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Marlyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohd
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Raha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rozita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hod
keywords: C reactive protein; CPFA; CVVH; acute kidney injury; multiorgan dysfunction; sepsis