Extracorporeal Blood Purification Techniques: Plasmapheresis and Hemoperfusion

This chapter will focus on techniques other than dialysis for removal of chemical toxins (endogenous or exogenous), immune toxins, or other naturally occurring biochemical substances considered to produce disease. Plasmapheresis is the process of removal of plasma (by mechanical, immunoprecipitation, cryoprecipitation, or filtration techniques) which contains the substance in question. Hemoperfusion is the passage of blood over sorbent agents for removal of harmful products