Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future

Abstract While a dysregulated immune response is at the center of the sepsis definition, standard care is still solely focussed on prompt administration of antimicrobial therapy, source control, resuscitation and organ supportive therapies. Extracorporeal blood purification therapies, such as haemoa...

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Main Authors: Nicole J. B. Waalders, Matthijs Kox, Peter Pickkers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-03-01
Series:Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00740-0
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author Nicole J. B. Waalders
Matthijs Kox
Peter Pickkers
author_facet Nicole J. B. Waalders
Matthijs Kox
Peter Pickkers
author_sort Nicole J. B. Waalders
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While a dysregulated immune response is at the center of the sepsis definition, standard care is still solely focussed on prompt administration of antimicrobial therapy, source control, resuscitation and organ supportive therapies. Extracorporeal blood purification therapies, such as haemoadsorption, have been proposed as a possible adjunctive therapy to standard care in sepsis. These adsorption devices aim to rebalance the dysregulated immune response by removal of excessive amounts of circulating inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and endotoxins. Thus far, the effects of haemoadsorption on clinical outcomes have been insufficiently studied and although its routine use is not justified based on the current evidence, multiple centers use these devices in patients with severe septic shock. This narrative review describes the most well-studied adsorption devices as well as a novel selective adsorption device called the ‘IL-6-Sieve’, including in vitro data showing its capturing potential. Finally, it addresses important considerations for future trials on haemoadsorption in septic patients.
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series Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
spelling doaj-art-5db1c0d16bab4fa68ca33a1b5954e13b2025-08-20T02:51:23ZengSpringerOpenIntensive Care Medicine Experimental2197-425X2025-03-0113111710.1186/s40635-025-00740-0Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and futureNicole J. B. Waalders0Matthijs Kox1Peter Pickkers2Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical centerDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical centerDepartment of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical centerAbstract While a dysregulated immune response is at the center of the sepsis definition, standard care is still solely focussed on prompt administration of antimicrobial therapy, source control, resuscitation and organ supportive therapies. Extracorporeal blood purification therapies, such as haemoadsorption, have been proposed as a possible adjunctive therapy to standard care in sepsis. These adsorption devices aim to rebalance the dysregulated immune response by removal of excessive amounts of circulating inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and endotoxins. Thus far, the effects of haemoadsorption on clinical outcomes have been insufficiently studied and although its routine use is not justified based on the current evidence, multiple centers use these devices in patients with severe septic shock. This narrative review describes the most well-studied adsorption devices as well as a novel selective adsorption device called the ‘IL-6-Sieve’, including in vitro data showing its capturing potential. Finally, it addresses important considerations for future trials on haemoadsorption in septic patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00740-0SepsisSeptic shockHemoadsorptionHemofiltrationBlood purificationCytokines
spellingShingle Nicole J. B. Waalders
Matthijs Kox
Peter Pickkers
Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
Sepsis
Septic shock
Hemoadsorption
Hemofiltration
Blood purification
Cytokines
title Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
title_full Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
title_fullStr Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
title_full_unstemmed Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
title_short Haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis: past, present, and future
title_sort haemoadsorption to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis past present and future
topic Sepsis
Septic shock
Hemoadsorption
Hemofiltration
Blood purification
Cytokines
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00740-0
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AT matthijskox haemoadsorptiontoremoveinflammatorymediatorsinsepsispastpresentandfuture
AT peterpickkers haemoadsorptiontoremoveinflammatorymediatorsinsepsispastpresentandfuture