Leukocyte Depletion Filter, Imugard III-RC, Absorbs Heparin Molecules.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient who underwent cardiac surgery in which heparinized blood made from cardiopulmonary bypass residual coagulated after passing through a leukocyte depletion filter, Imugard(R)III-RC. To investigate the reason for the coagulation, we measured the activated coagulation time (ACT) of heparinized blood before and after filtering, and found that the ACT of blood was significantly lower after the filtering. We reported this fact to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan. We investigated that Imugard(R)III-RC absorbed heparin molecules from heparinized blood. We added this information in the instructions for use of the device in 1999.