Abstract
The effect of surface area differences on cellular, humoral, and hemodynamic changes and on plasma separation performance were investigated. Sham plasmapheresjs, consisting of plasma separation and on-line reinfusion, was carried out on dogs for 3h with 0.6 and 0.3mm2 polyethylene (PE) and 0.6 and 0.3m m2polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) modules. Sieving coefficients of plasma proteins were canparable in both the 0.6 and 0.3mm2 modules. The initial white blood cell count reductions were independent of the surface area difference. The platelet (PLT) count reductions were less with the 0.3mm2 PE module in comparison to those with the larger PE module, but no differences were seen between both of the PVA modules. The smaller PVA module showed less complement activation compared to the 0.6mm2 module, whereas both of the PE modules nhowed comparable changes. Hemodynamic changes were less with the smaller modules eanpared to the 0.6mm2 modules. The PE modules themselves showed less blood cellular, humoral, and hemodynamic changes compared to the PVA modules. The smaller modules showed less PLT reductions, eemplement activation, and changes in hemodynamic parameters. The smaller modules may be preferred for patients who are prone to cardiovascular instabilities.
