Basic Principles of Double-Filtration Plasmapheresis

Various technologies for therapeutic apheresis have been introduced and successfully developed. In clinical practice, plasmapheresis is used to remove circulating immune complexes, endotoxins, and high molecular weight molecules, such as lipoproteins containing cholesterol. Filtration plasmapheresis techniques can be applied to the same diseases and indications. In particular, the membrane filtration technique is widely accepted due to its higher separation performance, relatively small size, low cost, and other advantages. Double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) is a specialized form of filtration in which large molecules are selectively filtered using two membranes: the plasma separator and the plasma fractionator. DFPP has been used for 40 years in Japan and many other countries as a safe treatment modality for numerous refractory diseases.