SAFETY CONFIRMATION OF MEMBRANE PLASMAPHERESIS FOR A DONATION PURPOSE

In order to avoid transfusion of unnecessary components of blood, usage of a a mere component of plasma fraction has become popular and subsequently easier, safer and less expensive ways of plasma collection have been sought. Safety confirmation study of membrane plasmapheresis, which is assumed to be a candidate for a such purpose, was performed paying a special concern on complement activation in healthy voluneteers utilizing three different membrane plasma separators specially designed for donation plasmapheresis. Specification of three separators and plasma collection maneuver was as follows; ‹A›; hollow fiber membrane of cellulose triacetate, 0.25m2, intermittent blood flow via a single needle. ‹B›; hollow fiber membrane of polypropylene, 0.20m2, continuous blood flow via two needles. ‹C›; flat sheet membrane, 0.22m2, continuous blood flow. About 400 ml of plasma was collected within 30min. using ACD as an anticoagulant. No serious symptoms were observed during and after the membrane donation plasmapheresis (MDP) in 25 volunteer donor. Only slight decrease in serum concentration of TP, albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, and Ca, but normalized in one week. C3a and C5a were contained more in the separated plasma and in the patient' blood after contacting with the separator membrane than in the preoperational serum in all procedures. However, there were no marked changes in coagulation factors during and after the procedures. In conclusion, MDP can be safely done in volunteer donors even though complements are more activated compared to the centrifugal procedure.