Bilirubin adsorbent column for plasma perfusion.

To eliminate protein-bound toxic substances, plasma exchange was introduced. In the case of fulminant hepatitis or other hepatic failure, the supply of coagulation factors is usually necessary; therefore, plasma exchange is a suitable method for the elimination of protein-bound toxins, for example, bilirubin. However, plasma exchange needs fresh frozen plasma or another protein fraction from humans, and virus contamination or other infectious factors are a serious problem. In the case of bilirubin, anion exchange resin was used to try to eliminate this toxic substance from the patient's blood or plasma. In Japan a bilirubin adsorption column for plasma perfusion has been put to practical use. This review outlines the characteristics of this bilirubin adsorbent.