Plasma filtration

Plasma filtration (also referred to as plasma exchange or membrane plasma separation) is not a molecular target or receptor, but rather a therapeutic procedure used to remove high-molecular-weight substances from plasma by filtering blood through specialized membranes with defined pore sizes. In this extracorporeal process, plasma is separated from cellular blood components, allowing the selective removal of proteins, autoantibodies, immune complexes, and other pathogenic macromolecules. The technique is commonly used in treating a range of autoimmune, hematologic, and renal disorders in which disease is mediated by circulating high-molecular-weight factors. The procedure resembles hemofiltration but requires membranes with larger pores to allow plasma proteins to pass while retaining blood cells. It is not a single molecular entity and thus should not be classified as a conventional drug target, receptor, enzyme, or transporter[1][6][7].

Other names

Plasma exchangeMembrane plasma separationMembrane-based plasma exchange

Physical removal of plasma and its high-molecular-weight constituents (e.g., autoantibodies, immune complexes, cryoglobulins, lipoproteins) via size-based membrane filtration or centrifugation[1][6][7]