Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis10(1):1, Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd© 2006 International Society for Apheresis

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Blackwell Publishing AsiaMelbourne, AustraliaTAPTherapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis1774-99792005 International Society for Apheresis? 2005

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Editorial

EDITORIALEDITORIAL

Guest Editorial

Acute Blood Purification in Critical Care

The practice of acute blood purification, especiallyfor non-renal indications, has undergone remarkablechange over the past 10 years and continues to evolverapidly. Technologic advances are facilitating clinicalapplications, and new areas of research are beingidentified. The use of novel membranes, of sorbents,and of different degrees of treatment is beingexplored in the areas of sepsis management (forexample, adsorption of endotoxin and cytokines) andliver support (albumin dialysis such as the molecularadsorbents recirculating system (MARS) therapy).Blood purification specialists need to keep abreast ofthis rapid evolution if patients are to be offered thebest of care.

In this special feature, professionals from all overthe world describe new technologies, ongoing devel-

opments, and management strategies that involveunique acute blood purification therapies for criti-cally ill patients. I am confident you will find thesereports useful and that they will contribute to thefurther understanding, spread, and development ofacute blood purification therapy as it pertains to crit-ical care.

Hajime Nakae, MDDepartment of Integrated Medicine,

Division of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine,Akita University School of Medicine,1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan

Email: nakaeh@doc.med.akita-u.ac.jp