Apheresis in patients with severe sepsis and multi organ dysfunction syndrome

Apheresis is used as therapeutic approach to improve outcome of patients with severe sepsis, septic shock and multi organ dysfunction syndrome. The concept is to reduce the extent of toxins and cytokines as well as other activators of the various cascade systems. In addition the replacement of plasma, in some of the protocols, helps to substitute with substances that are consumed/complex bound by the inflammatory reactions during the severe clinical condition. This article reviews literature in the field of adsorption technologies as well as plasma exchange techniques. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.