抄録
Plasma exchange using either cell centrifuge or membrane filtration has been advocated for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Major limitations to its chronic and widespread application are the requirement for plasma infusion products, loss of essential plasma substances, possible contamination of the infusion solutions and limited solute removal related to the volume of exchange. To overcome these problems a continuous cryofiltration technique has been developed for application in patients with immune complex mediated disease. Plasma containing the macromolecules to be removed is filtered from blood by an initial filter, then cooled and filtered by a second membrane to remove coldprecipitable proteins and large molecules. The treated plasma is then returned to the patient on-line. The removal of immune complex containing cryoglobulins by this technique has effected great improvement in a patient with severe unremitting rheumatoid arthritis.
