Characterization of Fractionation Membranes in an Animal Model of Double Filtration Lipoprotein Apheresis.

Technical problems during clinical lipid apheresis interfere with fractionator performance. Therefore, a large animal model was established to characterize a new plasma fractionation membrane. Four sheep were randomized, controlled, and crossover subjected to double ofiltration lipoprotein apheresis with three specimens of FractioPESR having slightly different HDL sieving coefficients (SK ) (FPESa, 0.30, FPESb, 0.26, and FPESc, 0.22) versus a control fractionator (EVAL). SK and reduction ratios were determined for LDL, HDL, fibrinogen, IgG, and albumin. Compared to EVAL (0.42 ± 0.04 to 0.74 ± 0.08) and FPESa (0.36 ± 0.06 to 0.64 ± 0.04), SK for HDL were lower (P < 0.05) with FPESc (0.30 ± 0.04 to 0.49 ± 0.10). Fibrinogen SK were higher (P < 0.05) with EVAL (0.02 ± 0.01 to 0.40 ± 0.08) compared to FPESb (0.05 ± 0.02 to 0.26 ± 0.34) and FPESc (0.01 ± 0.01 to 0.21 ± 0.16). No further differences were determined. The animal model distinguished between minor differences in fractionation membrane permeability, demonstrating equivalent sieving of FPESa and EVAL and slightly inferior permeability of FPESb and FPESc.