Background: Our aim is to report the results of the ‘liver indication’ subset of patients in the CytoSorb International Registry. Methods: Structured data were recorded. Treatment characteristics and changes from T1 (start of hemoadsorption) to T2 (termination) were evaluated with a special focus on bilirubin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, platelet levels, SOFA scores, mortality, and subjective assessment by the attending physicians. Results: Until January 2021, from the total 1434 patients, 109 (age: 49.2 ± 17.1 years, 57.8% males) received treatment for hyperbilirubinemia. APACHE II-predicted mortality was 49.6 ± 26.8%. In the study, 91% of patients were alive at the termination of hemoadsorption and improvement was observed by the physicians in 75 cases. Overall, 65 (59.6%) patients died in the hospital, and 60 (55.0%) died in the ICU. Patients received a median of two treatments for a median of 43 h (interquartile range: 24–72 h) in total. Serum bilirubin levels reduced significantly to −4.6 (95% CI: −6.329 to −2.8) mg/dL. Thrombocytopenia was reported in four patients as an adverse event. Conclusions: We report the largest case series on hemoadsorption for ‘liver indication’ from the CytoSorb International Registry. The finding of significant bilirubin removal observed in our study could have substantial impact in designing and executing further studies on the effects of hemoadsorption in liver dysfunction, which are certainly warranted.

The aim of the current paper is to summarize the results of the International CytoSorb Registry. Data were collected on patients of the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was actual in-hospital mortality compared to the mortality predicted by APACHE II score. The main secondary endpoints were SOFA scores, inflammatory biomarkers and overall evaluation of the general condition. 1434 patients were enrolled. Indications for hemoadsorption were sepsis/septic shock (N = 936); cardiac surgery perioperatively (N = 172); cardiac surgery postoperatively (N = 67) and “other” reasons (N = 259). APACHE-II-predicted mortality was 62.0±24.8%, whereas observed hospital mortality was 50.1%. Overall SOFA scores did not change but cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores decreased by 0.4 [-0.5;-0.3] and -0.2 [-0.3;-0.2] points, respectively. Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels showed significant reduction: -15.4 [-19.6;-11.17] ng/mL; -17,52 [-70;44] mg/L, respectively. In the septic cohort PCT and IL-6 also showed significant reduction: -18.2 [-23.6;-12.8] ng/mL; -2.6 [-3.0;-2.2] pg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of the overall effect: minimal improvement (22%), much improvement (22%) and very much improvement (10%), no change observed (30%) and deterioration (4%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of mortality, but there were improvements in cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores and a reduction in PCT, CRP and IL-6 levels. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02312024 (retrospectively registered).

Clozapine is a frequently used antipsychotic that, in case of overdose, can cause severe adverse side effects, such as hematological, cardiovascular, and neurological complications. As there is no specific antidote or reversal agent available, extracorporeal techniques such as CytoSorb hemoadsorption might represent a viable option, having already been used in a variety of intoxication scenarios with favorable rates of success. A 56-year-old male was admitted with generalized epileptic seizures and arrhythmias following ingestion of clozapine in a suicide attempt (5,000 mg). Subsequently, conventional supportive care was initiated. To accelerate drug removal, continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration including the application of CytoSorb hemoadsorption therapy was started. Serial measurements confirmed rapid reduction of clozapine plasma levels. The patient remained hemodynamically stable throughout this period. Furthermore, there were no cardiac arrhythmias detected and liver values were normal. The patient improved and was successfully extubated 3 days after admission with good vigilance and no residual neurological abnormalities. This is the first clinical case report on the use of CytoSorb hemoadsorption in severe clozapine intoxication which helped quickly and efficiently reduce clozapine levels to nontoxic serum levels while preserving organ function. Therefore, CytoSorb might represent an alternative treatment modality to be considered for potentially lethal clozapine intoxications.

Aims: Catecholamines represent a cornerstone in the hemodynamic management of septic shock (SS). However, development of toxicity may adversely affect patient outcome. We describe the outcome of 460 consecutive SS patients who were treated with an institutional hemodynamic protocol aimed at decreasing catecholamine toxicity. Study Design: Retrospective observational analysis.

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