CHANGE IN HEMORRHEOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS FOLLOWING MEMBRANE DIFFERENTIAL FILTRATION

Introduction: The elimination of high molecular weight proteins may ha ve a positive influence on disorders of the microcirculation due to an improvement in rheological parameters. We therefore attempted to eval uate the rheological efficacy of membrane differential filtration (MDF ). Patients and methods: Ten patients suffering from macular disease u nderwent MDF, Rheological and biochemical parameters as well as visual acuity were determined one day before and after therapy: The study ai med at a reduction in plasma viscosity, standardized whole blood visco sity at hematocrit 0.45 and erythrocyte aggregation at hematocrit 0.3. Results. Severe side-effects were not observed. The rheological param eters were significantly reduced. In detail the posttreatment values w ere reduced as compared to the pretreatment values as follows: plasma viscosity 85%, standardised whole blood viscosity 86% (hematocrit 0.45 ), erythrocyte aggregation 59% (hematocrit 0.3), total protein 81%, Ig G 66%, IgA 59%, IgM 33%, alpha-2-macroglobulin 30%, triglycerides 102% , total cholesterol 47%, VLDL cholesterol 94%, LDL cholesterol 33%, HD L cholesterol 62%. Visual acuity was improved in 7/10 patients. Conclu sions: MDF is a safe and highly effective method for lowering biochemi cal and improving rheological parameters which led to improvement in v isual acuity. We have already replaced plasma exchange with MDF in our clinical practice of hemorrheological therapy.