Hemoperfusion through albumin-conjugated agarose gel for the treatment of neonatal jaundice in premature rhesus monkeys

Hemoperfusion through albumin-conjugated agarose gel (AAG) effectively removes bilirubin (BR) and other albumin-bound materials from whole blood or plasma. We have used this technique to treat neonatal jaundice in premature rhesus monkeys with a specially designated apparatus which permits continuous perfusion through one of four columns arranged in parallel while the others are sequentially washed with saline and regenerated with ethanol. Less than 15 per cent of the animal's blood volume is required in the extracorporeal circuit at any time. Results indicate that (1) compared with five control monkeys which had a peak BR concentration ([BR]) averaging approximately 4 mg./100 ml., six experimental monkeys showed a significant (p