Therapeutic apheresis and dialysis : official peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Apheresis, the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy
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Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion (PMX-DHP) therapy is widely used for the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock, and is generally performed for 2 h. Although previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of PMX-DHP therapy, it currently remains unclear whether its optimal duration is 2 h. This retrospective study analyzed 37 patients with septic shock who showed a poor clinical response to 2 h of PMX-DHP, and underwent a longer duration of this therapy. ⋯ In addition, the P/F ratio improved significantly in the group of surviving patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the period between the start and 24 h after the end of PMX-DHP therapy (P < 0.01), and between 2 h after the start of and the end of this therapy (P < 0.01). These results suggest that a longer duration of PMX-DHP therapy can be expected to improve the hemodynamics and pulmonary oxygenation capacity of patients with severe sepsis/septic shock. Strict prospective studies are needed in the future.