Abstract
Bilirubin elimination by dialysis under various conditions was investigated in vitro utilizing plasma with a high bilirubin concentration obtained during plasma exchange for hepatic insufficiency. This study showed that the plasma bilirubin concentration decreased and the bilirubin concentration of the dialysate increased when the combination of HPM and albumin-containing dialysate without a PMMA membrane was used. However, delta bilirubin, which covalently binds to albumin, was not eliminated by this system. The dialysis conditions were dialysis fluid with an albumin concentration of 5% and a temperature of 37°C, and plasma and dialysis fluid flow rates of 60-120ml/min. Applications of this system, other than as a hepatic assist system in the treatment of hepatic insufficiency, include the elimination of drugs and uremic toxins with a high degree of albumin binding. Thus, it may be possible to utilize this system to purify albumin.
