Continuous plasmafiltration in sepsis syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of plasmafiltration (PF) on biochemical markers of inflammation, cytokines, organ dysfunction, and 14-day mortality in human sepsis. Design: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Setting: Seven university-affiliated intensive care units. Patients: Thirty patients (22 adults, eight children) with new (< 24 hrs) clinical evidence of infection and sepsis syndrome were enrolled. Fourteen of 30 (nine adults, five children) were randomized to PF. Interventions: All patients received protocol-driven supportive intensive care, and those randomized to PF received continuous plasma exchange for 34 hrs using a hollow-fiber plasma filter. Measur..