Experience of using an extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorber (CytoSorb®) in systemic inflammatory response syndrome after heart transplantation

Heart transplantation is well-established and considered the most effective therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and renal dysfunction after heart transplantation are commonly experienced complications, which may significantly impact on overall survival. The extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorber (CytoSorb®) is a novel nonpharmacologic hemocompatible adsorber, which has porous polymer beads capable of removing cytokines and other mid-molecular weight toxins from the blood. CytoSorb is a unique hemoadsorber, which has a huge surface area, a broad spectrum of adsorption, and is very easy to set up on any extracorporeal circuit. Here, we report our experience of using CytoSorb in the management of SIRS after heart transplantation in a 28-year-old male.