Table 1 Baseline characteristics of included studies

Reeves and colleagues [23]

30 (14/16)

Sepsis syndrome

39/53 (mean)

26.2/24.2 (adults)

Plasma filtration

2 PV during first 4 to 6 hours, 3 PV throughout following 28 to 30 hours (total five volumes)

FFP/protein electrolyte replacement solution (1:4 ratio)

22 adults

Eight children

26.3/26.9 (children^a)

(PF1000 plasma filter, Gambro, Lund, Sweden)

213 ml/kg (SD 42.2) plasma exchanged

(APACHE II)

Busund and colleagues [24]

106 (54/52)

Adults with severe sepsis or septic shock

41/48 (mean)

56.4/53.5

Plasmapheresis

One treatment of 30 to 40 ml/kg exchange

FFP:5% albumin replacement fluid (1:1 ratio)

(APACHE III)

(PF-0.5 [Lvov, Russia] and DK2-03 [Rjazan, Russia] plasmapheresis machine)

(Repeated once if no clinical improvement)

Mean 1,820 ± 402 ml (first session) and 1,763 ± 312 ml (second session)

Nguyen and colleagues [25]

10 (5/5)

Children with thrombocytopenia and multiorgan failure due to sepsis

1 to 16 /3 to 18 (range)

25.7/25.7

Plasma exchange (SPECTRA, Gambro BCT, Lakewood, Co, USA)

1.5 volumes day 1; 1.0 volumes for 14 days)

NR

(PELOD)^a

Median of 12 treatments given

Long and colleagues [26]

48 (25/23)

Children with severe sepsis

2.8 (1.2 to 9.6) /2.8 (0.9 to 5)

NR

Plasma filtration

2 PV over first 2 hours (100 ml/kg) followed by 6 PV over the next 30 hours (300 ml/kg)

FFP/protein electrolyte replacement solution (1:4 ratio)

(PF1000 or PF2000 plasma filter, Gambro, Lund, Sweden)

Median (IQR)